Final answer:
To perform quality control on a scale, a medical assistant conducts routine calibration checks with known, certified weights to ensure the scale accurately measures within the claimed range. If inconsistencies arise, the scale may require professional servicing or recalibration.
Step-by-step explanation:
To quality control a scale that is used for weighing patients, a medical assistant would perform regular calibration checks to ensure accuracy. This involves using known weights to test the scale’s precision. For instance, if a bathroom scale claims to identify weights within a pound accurately, the medical assistant would apply a series of known weights to the scale, closely assessing whether the scale registers the weights correctly and consistently within the claimed range.
It is important to calibrate the scale with weights at different points of the scale's capacity. This ensures accuracy not just at one point but across the range that patients may weigh. For accurate outcomes, the known weights should be certified and traceable to standards provided by national metrology institutes.
If the scale does not demonstrate the expected accuracy or consistency, it may need to be serviced or recalibrated by a professional. Regular calibration ensures that the measurements are dependable, which is paramount in a medical setting where precise weight measurements are necessary for dosing medications and assessing health metrics.