Which term describes a systematic review of the patient’s symptoms across body systems to identify additional findings?

• A. MDM
• B. Diagnostic tests
• C. ROS
• D. Consultations

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is the Review of Systems (ROS): a structured, multi-system symptom screen used to uncover additional findings the patient may not voluntarily report. By systematically asking about symptoms across major body systems—constitutional, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and so on—the clinician can identify issues the patient didn’t mention spontaneously, which helps complete the clinical picture and informs subsequent questioning, testing, and management. This is different from diagnostic tests, which are objective investigations; from consultations, which involve obtaining input from other clinicians; and from medical decision making, which concerns the planning and reasoning behind diagnosis and treatment.