Question

A patient calls in to the office to report that he med is "not working". Which of the following responses should the MA make?

1) "i will notify the provider about your situation"
2) "you should keep taking the med until it works"
3) "you should double the dose of the med"
4) "i will call the pharmacy to authorize a refill for your med"

Answer 1

The correct response for a Medical Assistant when a patient reports that their medication is not working is to inform the healthcare provider for appropriate action, as suggesting modifications to the medication regimen or authorizing a refill without consultation are beyond the MA's scope of practice.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient calls into the office reporting that their medication is "not working," the correct response from the Medical Assistant (MA) would be to notify the provider about the patient's situation. It is important for the MA to relay this information to the healthcare provider so they can assess the situation and provide appropriate medical advice. The provider may need to adjust the medication, provide alternative treatments, or further evaluate the patient.

Advising the patient to keep taking the medication without provider approval, suggesting to double the dose, or authorizing a refill without consultation are all inappropriate responses. These actions could result in harm to the patient and are not within the MA's scope of practice. The safest and most professional course of action is to inform the provider, who can make a clinically informed decision.