The H&P medical abbreviation stands for history and physical, the detailed note a clinician writes when first getting to know a patient, usually at a hospital admission, a new patient visit or before surgery. It combines the patient's story, called the history, with a head to toe or focused physical exam.
You may see it written H&P, H and P or H/P. Hospital staff say "Has the H and P been done?" when a patient is admitted, and surgery centers check for a current one before an operation. This page walks through the sections of an H&P, when one is required, and how it compares with shorter daily notes.
At a glance
Stands for
History and physical (examination)Written as
H&P, H and P, H/P, h&pWhen it is done
Hospital admission, before surgery, new patient visitsMain parts
Who writes it
Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistantsDo not confuse with
SOAP note, the shorter daily format
What the H&P medical abbreviation describes
An H&P is the foundation note of a hospital stay or a new relationship with a clinician. It gathers what is known about the patient in one place: why they came, what conditions they have, what they take, what runs in the family, how they live, what the exam shows, and the clinician's working explanation.
Every later note builds on it. Daily progress notes refer back to the H&P, consultants read it before seeing the patient, and the discharge summary often starts from it. A thorough H&P saves time and prevents repeated questions later.
The parts of a history and physical
Most H&P notes follow the same order, though templates vary by hospital and specialty.
| Section | What it holds |
|---|---|
| CC, chief complaint | Why the patient came in, often quoted in their own words |
| HPI | Details of today's problem: when it began, how it changed, what eases it |
| PMH and PSH | Past medical and surgical history |
| Medications and allergies | Current medicines and reactions, such as NKDA |
| FH and SH | Family history and social history |
| ROS | A checklist of symptoms by body system |
| Physical exam | Vital signs and findings by body area |
| Assessment and plan | The likely diagnoses and next steps |
When an H&P is required
In US hospitals, rules followed by most facilities generally require an H&P within about 24 hours after admission and before any surgery or procedure that needs anesthesia. One done in the 30 days before admission can often be used if a clinician adds an update note confirming any changes. Hospitals and surgery centers write their own detailed policies within these limits.
Surgery center checklist: "H&P dated within 30 days, interval update completed day of surgery, consent signed." This means a recent history and physical is on file, someone checked for changes on the day of the operation, and the consent form is done.
For a patient, this is why you may be asked the same questions at a pre op visit and again on the morning of surgery.
H&P compared with SOAP and progress notes
An H&P is long and complete. A SOAP note, short for subjective, objective, assessment and plan, is a shorter format used for daily progress notes and follow up visits. It focuses on what changed since the last note rather than retelling the whole history.
A consult note sits between the two: a specialist writes a focused history and exam aimed at one question. At the end of a stay, a discharge summary wraps up what happened. Knowing these formats helps patients find the right note in a portal.
Writing an H&P as a student
Medical, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students write many practice H&Ps, and scribes help build them in real time. Good habits include keeping the HPI focused on the main problem, listing pertinent negatives, recording medicines with doses and frequency, and making the assessment explain the reasoning, not just name a diagnosis. Nursing students write a parallel admission assessment with many of the same parts. The nursing abbreviations guide covers the shorthand that fills these notes.
If you spot an error or a gap in your own history and physical, tell your care team so the record can be fixed. This page only explains the type of note.
Frequently asked questions
What does H&P stand for in a hospital?
H&P stands for history and physical. It is the full note a clinician writes at admission or before surgery, covering the patient's story, exam findings and plan.
Who does the H&P before surgery?
It is usually done by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, often the surgeon's team or the patient's primary care clinician. On the day of surgery, someone confirms nothing important has changed.
How long is an H&P good for?
In many US hospitals an H&P done within about 30 days before admission or surgery can be used, as long as an update note is added close to the time of the procedure. Each facility sets its own exact policy.
Is an H&P the same as a physical exam?
No. The physical exam is one part of it. The H&P also includes the full history, the review of systems, and the clinician's assessment and plan.