What is considered a New Patient?

What is considered a New Patient?

• A. A patient who has not been treated in your office for a time period over 3 years
• B. A patient who has never been treated by your office
• C. A patient who has received care in the last 12 months
• D. A patient who is new to your medical practice

Answer: (A)

A new patient is defined by not having received professional services from the practice within the last three years. If it has been more than three years since their last visit, they are treated as new for purposes of scheduling, history taking, and billing. While someone who has never been treated by the office also fits the broad idea of “new,” the standard definition emphasized here centers on the three-year window, making the statement about not being treated for over three years the best match.

A new patient is defined by not having received professional services from the practice within the last three years. If it has been more than three years since their last visit, they are treated as new for purposes of scheduling, history taking, and billing. While someone who has never been treated by the office also fits the broad idea of “new,” the standard definition emphasized here centers on the three-year window, making the statement about not being treated for over three years the best match.