What is the next step after taking a patient history in a GP visit?

After taking a patient history during a general practitioner visit, the logical next step is to conduct a physical examination. This process allows the healthcare provider to gather additional information that complements the history taken from the patient. It involves assessing the patient's current health status through observations, palpations, auscultations, and various diagnostic techniques.

Completing a thorough physical examination can help to pinpoint any specific health issues or confirm preliminary findings from the patient's history. This step is pivotal as it ensures that any diagnosis made is grounded in both subjective and objective information, leading to a more accurate assessment of the patient's condition.

The other options, although relevant to patient care, are typically steps that follow the physical examination. Making a referral would occur if the examination indicated that specialized care was needed. Providing a diagnosis would require insights gathered from both the patient history and the physical examination. Prescribing medication may happen if the examination and history together point towards a specific ailment that requires treatment.