Question

A patient calls into the office to report that a medication is not working. Which responses should the medical assistant make?

Option A: Advise the patient to stop taking the medication immediately.
Option B: Ask the patient to come in for a new prescription.
Option C: Gather more information about the issue and consult the healthcare provider.
Option D: Suggest the patient try an over-the-counter alternative.

Answer 1

The medical assistant should gather more information about the issue and consult the healthcare provider when a patient reports that a medication is not working.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient calls to report that a medication is not working, the medical assistant should respond by gathering more information about the issue and consulting the healthcare provider. Option C is the correct response in this situation. Stopping the medication immediately without consulting a healthcare provider can have adverse effects, and suggesting an over-the-counter alternative without knowledge of the patient's specific condition can be unsafe. Asking the patient to come in for a new prescription may not be necessary if the issue can be resolved by adjusting the current prescription.