What type of patient is Darlene considered during her visit after not seeing Dr. Curtis for four years?

Darlene is considered a new patient because she has not seen Dr. Curtis for four years. In medical coding and billing, a new patient is typically defined as someone who has not received professional services from the physician or another physician of the same specialty in the same group practice within the past three years. This definition is important as it affects how the visit is coded and billed, often requiring different procedural and documentation standards compared to established patients, who are individuals that have received care from the provider within the specified timeframe.

Thus, since Darlene has not accessed care from Dr. Curtis in over four years, her status is classified as a new patient for billing and coding purposes.