How long must a patient wait between visits to be considered a new patient?

To classify a patient as a new patient, medical guidelines typically specify that there must be a specific duration since the patient's last visit to the healthcare provider. In this context, the requirement is that a patient must wait three years from their last appointment in order to be considered a new patient upon their return.

This three-year period is standard in many healthcare systems to ensure that there's enough time elapsed for the patient's medical history and needs to be reassessed as if they were new. This approach allows the healthcare provider to conduct a fresh evaluation without the bias or records of previous visits. In contrast, shorter periods, such as one year or two years, could still associate the patient with their old records, whereas a five-year gap may not be widely accepted as necessary for classification as a new patient. Therefore, the three-year duration represents a balanced approach that updates patient records while still allowing for continuity of care.