Which process involves reviewing a patient's medical history and symptoms?

The process of reviewing a patient's medical history and symptoms is known as assessment. During the assessment phase, healthcare professionals gather comprehensive information about the patient's health status, including past medical history, current symptoms, and any relevant lifestyle factors. This holistic understanding is crucial for forming a diagnosis.

The diagnosis phase follows the assessment and involves interpreting the information collected to identify the specific condition affecting the patient. While the diagnosis is key to determining the illness, it is directly built upon the thorough assessment that precedes it. Thus, assessment is the foundational step that informs the subsequent diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.