Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

Which term refers to an intermediate diagnosis based on the evaluation of a patient's health history and physical examination?

1. Clinical Diagnosis

2. Physical Diagnosis

3. Differential Diagnosis

4. Systemic Diagnosis

The correct answer is: Physical Diagnosis

The term that refers to an intermediate diagnosis based on the evaluation of a patient's health history and physical examination is indeed "Clinical Diagnosis." A clinical diagnosis is made when a healthcare provider determines the nature of a patient's illness based on the symptoms that present during a physical examination and the relevant health history provided by the patient. This type of diagnosis is typically supported by clinical findings and may involve further investigation to confirm the diagnosis. Differential diagnosis refers to the process of distinguishing between two or more conditions that share similar signs or symptoms, rather than being an intermediate diagnosis itself. Physical diagnosis is more specific and focuses explicitly on the examination of the patient's body to evaluate the physical state, while systemic diagnosis would typically involve diagnosing based on specific systems of the body rather than a broader clinical evaluation. Thus, the correct term for an intermediate diagnosis based on health history and physical examination is clinical diagnosis.