Which component of a patient encounter focuses on subjective symptoms reported by the patient?

• A. Plan
• B. Review of systems
• C. Physical examination
• D. Assessment

Answer: (B)

Review of systems captures the subjective symptoms reported by the patient. It uses a structured set of questions to gather what the patient feels and experiences—pain, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and other symptoms across body systems. These are subjective data, coming from the patient’s own description, not something the clinician observes directly. This differs from the physical examination, which records objective signs the clinician observes or measures, like heart sounds, lung findings, or vital signs. The plan describes how to manage the patient—turther tests, treatments, and follow-up—while the assessment is the clinician’s diagnostic impression based on all information gathered.