A detailed patient history is essential to gather relevant information and guide the assessment process.
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is widely used for screening and assessing depression severity.
Understanding the nature of the pain and associated symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath, diaphoresis) helps identify life-threatening conditions.
Crackles, especially in the lower lobes, are often associated with fluid or infection in the lungs, indicative of pneumonia.
BUN and creatinine levels provide critical information about kidney function and filtration ability.
