The diagnosis after the patient has been admitted to the hospital and an examination or tests have been performed is known as the:
A) rule-out diagnosis.
B) secondary diagnosis.
C) principal diagnosis.
D) primary diagnosis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principal diagnosis is the diagnosis that is primarily responsible for the patient's hospitalization and treatment. It is assigned after the patient has been admitted and required an examination or tests to determine the reason for their hospitalization. The rule-out diagnosis refers to a diagnosis that is being considered but has not yet been confirmed, while the secondary diagnosis refers to a diagnosis that is not the primary reason for the patient's hospitalization but may affect their treatment. The primary diagnosis is used in outpatient settings to describe the reason for the patient's visit.

The Diagnosis After the Patient Has Been Admitted to the Hospital