Which statement defines a New patient?

• A. Someone who has never been into the clinic
• B. Someone who hasn't been into the clinic in over 3 years
• C. Both statements are true
• D. A patient of yours from day one to at least 3 years

Answer: (C)

In clinic practice, a New patient is someone who does not have an established care relationship with the clinic yet. That can be because they have never been seen there, or because they haven’t been in for a long time and are re-entering care. Both scenarios fit the idea of starting fresh with intake, medical history, consent, and baseline data because the clinic lacks current, up-to-date records and the patient hasn’t established rapport with the care team.

So why are both statements true? If someone has never visited the clinic, they obviously need the full new-patient intake. If someone hasn’t come in for over three years, their previous records may be outdated and their current health status or needs may have changed, so they’re treated as a new patient to ensure proper documentation and safety. This is why the best answer reflects that both conditions define a new patient.

The other option, describing a current patient who has been with you for years, clearly isn’t new, so it doesn’t fit the concept of a new patient.