What is the final step of the physical exam?

• A. Order imaging
• B. Check if any systems need further review
• C. Summarize patient goals
• D. Plan the intervention

Answer: (B)

The final step in the physical exam is to check if any systems need further review. After you’ve completed the hands-on assessment, you scan through all body systems again to make sure nothing was missed and to determine whether any area requires more data, additional history, or targeted testing. This closing check helps prevent missed findings and guides what to do next.

Imaging is typically ordered based on findings from the exam or differential diagnosis, not as the concluding step of the exam itself. Summarizing patient goals is important for guiding care, but that usually happens during the broader clinical conversation and planning, not at the end of the physical exam. Planning the intervention comes after you’ve integrated exam findings and any additional data into a plan.