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chief complaint

The main reason a person is seeking care, told in their own words.

cheef kum-PLAYNT noun

What it means

The chief complaint starts the health history and guides the rest of the assessment. It is written in quotation marks when it is the client's own words.

In a chart

"Chief complaint: 'My chest feels heavy and I can't catch my breath.'"

At a glance

Spanishmotivo de consulta
Also writtenchief complaints

Related terms

assess

To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.

triage

Sorting clients by how urgently they need care, to decide who is seen first.

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