Which step should occur first when performing an initial risk assessment for a new patient?

• A. Gather medical history and social data
• B. Document a tailored plan
• C. Identify red flags
• D. Stratify risk

Answer: (A)

Starting with gathering medical history and social data establishes the essential context for every risk assessment. Knowing a patient’s past illnesses, medications, allergies, surgeries, family history, and current social factors (like housing, support systems, access to care, and lifestyle) creates a baseline of risk factors and influences. This information helps you interpret current symptoms, identify potential contributors to risk, and determine what else needs to be investigated.

With that foundation, you can spot important red flags in light of the patient’s history, but you won’t recognize or interpret those red flags accurately without the background. Risk stratification and a tailored plan rely on understanding the patient’s prior conditions and social context, so they come after you’ve collected the historical data. In short, you start with history and social data to anchor the entire assessment, then move on to flagging concerns, assessing overall risk, and planning care.