Chart Review is performed before seeing the patient and prior to history taking.

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Reviewing the patient’s chart before meeting them provides essential context that shapes the entire initial assessment. By looking over medical history, current medications, allergies, prior surgeries or imaging, and referral notes ahead of time, you can tailor the questions you ask and anticipate issues that might affect testing or treatment. This preparation helps you identify red flags, contraindications, and safety considerations so the history and exam flow smoothly and safely.

If you wait to review after starting the history, you miss opportunities to tailor questions from the outset and may need to backtrack to clarify or verify information. Doing chart review during the physical exam disrupts the visit flow and wastes time. Reviewing after discharge is irrelevant for the current encounter, since the purpose is to inform the initial assessment and plan.