Physical Exam

Physical Exam represents the evaluation of the patient's body and/or mental status to determine its state of health. The techniques of examination can include palpation (feeling with the hands or fingers), percussion (tapping with the fingers), auscultation (listening), visual inspection or observation, inquisition and smell. Measurements may include vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration) as well as other clinical measures (such as expiratory flow rate and size of lesion). In the context of quality measurement, the physical exam category is also used to represent calculations based upon measurements (such as body mass index [BMI]). Physical exam includes psychiatric examinations.