Final answer:
When opening and processing mail, the medical assistant should consider health records, medical care items, and other administrative items as fifth priority.
Step-by-step explanation:
When opening and processing mail, the medical assistant should consider the following items as fifth priority:
- Health records: The medical assistant should ensure that patient privacy is protected while balancing the costs of treatments and diagnoses, as well as patient quality of life.
- Medical care: While important, medical care items such as prescription drugs, medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses and eye care, and hospital services should be considered as fifth priority in order to prioritize more urgent tasks related to patient care.
- Other administrative items: Miscellaneous administrative items such as reviewing emails, checking inbox, or responding to non-urgent inquiries can also be considered as fifth priority.