What term describes evaluating potential risks before planning care?

• A. Risk assessment
• B. Prognosis
• C. Diagnosis
• D. Treatment planning

Answer: (A)

Evaluating potential risks before planning care is risk assessment. This is the process of identifying what could go wrong for a patient, estimating how likely each risk is, and how severe it might be, so the care plan can address the most important safety concerns and prevent complications. For example, checking a patient’s risk of falls or infection before deciding on interventions helps prioritize safety measures and resources.

Prognosis refers to predicting the likely course and outcome of a disease once it’s known. Diagnosis is about determining what condition the patient currently has. Treatment planning comes after understanding risks and diagnoses and focuses on choosing and ordering interventions to treat the condition.