Comprehensive vs. Focused Assessment A comprehensive health assessment is typically reserved for the establishment of care in a clinical or acute care setting. When visiting a physician for the first time or on admission to the hospital, a comprehensive health screening is completed. Comprehensive health assessments differ from a focused physical assessment in fundamental ways. The comprehensive assessment provides detailed information about the patient beyond the physical body. The clinician can gather pertinent information about patients' history, socioeconomic status, religion, cultural beliefs, and lifestyle. A focused exam is appropriate when the patient and clinician have an established relationship. Focused exams allow for symptoms or concerns to be addressed to a specific body system or symptoms. The focused exam is more flexible or problem-oriented, and allows for the clinician to select approaches relevant to the thorough assessment of a targeted problem (Bickley, 2017, pp. 5-6). References Bickley, L. S. (2017). Foundations for Clinical Proficiency; Patient assessment; comprehensive or focused. In R. M. Hoffman (Ed.),Bates’ guide to physical examination and history taking,12th edition (pp. 5-6 ). Wolters Ku; [Adobe Digital Editions]. Available from