Final answer:
The medical assistant can determine what kind of medication it is by looking at the pill using a drug reference guide or database.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical assistant can determine what kind of medication it is by looking at the pill using a drug reference guide or database. These references provide detailed information about various medications, including their appearance, markings, and other identifying features. One example of a drug reference is the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR), which contains information about prescription drugs, including their shape, color, and markings. Another useful reference is the National Library of Medicine's Pillbox, an online database that allows users to search for medications based on their physical characteristics.