The detailed examination level is characterized by a more thorough assessment of the patient's medical condition. This type of examination requires documentation of at least 12 elements, enhancing the understanding of the patient's health status and allowing for more informed decision-making regarding their care. Elements documented can include a thorough history, review of systems, and examination findings that encompass multiple organ systems.
In contrast, a problem-focused examination typically concentrates on a specific issue or area and only requires brief documentation, while an expanded problem-focused examination involves more elements than a problem-focused examination but less than a detailed examination. The comprehensive examination is the most extensive, requiring documentation of multiple components, but specifically refers to a wide-ranging assessment rather than the 12 distinct elements required in a detailed examination. Thus, the detailed examination stands out for its specific expectation of thoroughness in documentation.