Hx (Medical History)

The Hx (medical history) is a way for a doctor to become better acquainted with a patient. A doctor trying to make a diagnosis using only the symptoms is like an attorney trying to defend a client without first reading a case’s legal brief. Why Hx? Because busy healthcare professionals frequently use shorthand to describe well-known terms: Hx for history, Fx for fracture, Tx for treatment, Rx for prescription, etc.

Medical History Questions

In addition to taking your name, height, weight, age, and other personal information, a healthcare provider may ask for social history such as living arrangements, marital status, number of children, sexual history, drug and alcohol use, and others. You may also be asked to provide the following information on a medical history form:

• Chief current medical complaint
• History of the present illness
• Past diseases, surgeries, chronic illnesses
• Review of symptoms
• Family diseases
• Childhood diseases
• Allergies
• Regular medications

Importance of Medical History

A thorough medical history is crucial for a physician to be able to gain an accurate diagnosis. Used in conjunction with a clinical examination, a doctor can then determine the best treatment plan.