Who conducts the initial medical assessment for a client?

The initial medical assessment for a client is primarily conducted by a licensed physician. This is because physicians are specifically trained to evaluate a patient’s comprehensive health status, diagnose medical conditions, and determine appropriate treatment plans. They have the medical expertise to conduct physical examinations, understand laboratory results, and integrate information from various health disciplines into a cohesive picture of the client’s health.

While licensed nurses play a crucial role in assessing patients and can gather vital signs and medical histories, their assessments typically do not include the final diagnosis or treatment protocols that a physician would provide. Social workers focus on the social and emotional aspects of a client’s situation and typically do not have the medical training required to conduct a comprehensive medical assessment. Clinical psychologists are trained to address mental health issues and may evaluate mental health conditions, but they are not equipped to conduct the broad medical assessments that physicians perform.

Thus, the correct answer reflects the specific role and training of a licensed physician in the context of initial medical assessments.