Final answer:
In order to verify a patient's identity, a phlebotomist should ask the patient to confirm their date of birth (a). This ensures accurate identification and prevents potential mix-ups with another individual, contributing to patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
A phlebotomist is responsible for accurately identifying patients before performing any procedures such as blood draws. When a phlebotomist calls out the name of an outpatient, they proceed to verify the patient's identity. This is crucial to ensure patient safety and the integrity of the blood sample. The correct method for verifying a patient's identity involves asking the patient to confirm information that is unique and verifiable, such as their date of birth or to show a form of identification that includes this information.
To answer the student's question, the phlebotomist should verify the patient's identity by asking the patient to: a) Confirm her date of birth. This is a common practice in medical settings as it helps to confirm that the patient is who they claim to be and avoids any mix-up with another individual. Other methods mentioned, such as describing symptoms or providing a home address, are not as reliable and could lead to patient identification errors. Showing an insurance card could also help verify identity, but the date of birth is a more direct method commonly used.