Red flags
Also called Alarm features, Warning signs
Red flags are history or examination features that raise the likelihood of a serious cause and call for prompt action or further assessment.
Why it matters in a workup
Each presentation has its own widely taught red flags, such as sudden severe headache or chest pain at rest. Local pathways decide what to do when one is present.
Record the red flags you asked about whether present or absent. A documented negative tells the next reader that you considered it.
Put it into practice
- Ask about the red flags for the presentation
- Record each as present or absent
- Link any present red flag to an action in the plan
Frequently asked questions
Why document red flags that are absent?
Because absence is evidence. It shows you asked, and it supports the decision you made about urgency.
General guidance on clinical documentation, not advice about any individual patient and not legal advice.
Glossary
Look up related terms
- Safety-nettingSafety-netting is the advice you give a patient about which symptoms should bring them back, how urgently and to whom, recorded in the notes.
- History of presenting complaintThe history of presenting complaint is the detailed story of the main problem: onset, character, timing, triggers, relieving factors and associated symptoms.