Final answer:
A medical assistant would not complete an incident report if a patient receives the correct medication, as this is part of standard care and does not constitute an unusual or adverse event.
Step-by-step explanation:
An incident report in a medical setting is a document filled out to record details of an unusual event that occurs at the facility, such as an injury, theft, or equipment malfunction. In the context provided, a medical assistant would typically need to complete an incident report for the following three scenarios:
- A patient falls on a wet floor.
- An employee's purse is missing.
- A prescription pad is missing.
Conversely, if a patient receives the correct medication, this is considered part of the routine care provided in a healthcare setting and would not require an incident report. Incident reports are intended for adverse or unexpected events that might require an investigation and follow-up to prevent future occurrences, ensure safety, and maintain security.
In a clinical example, when a healthcare worker was found stealing syringes and two patients subsequently contracted HIV, an incident report would have been crucial. It would serve to document the chain of events, analyze what went wrong, and help implement measures to prevent such a scenario in the future.