Final answer:
A medical assistant should document a patient's visual acuity test result as 20/30 with a note about the missed letter when using the Snellen chart.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conducting a visual acuity test using the Snellen chart, if an adult patient is able to read the 20/30 line with both eyes but misses one letter, the medical assistant should document the result as 20/30 with a notation about the missed letter. The Snellen chart is used to measure visual acuity, which determines how well an individual can see at distances compared to a person with normal vision. The '20/30' signifies that what a person with normal vision can see at 30 feet, the tested individual can see at 20 feet. When recording vision test results, it's important to provide a precise account, which includes the line that was read and any errors made, as this information is crucial for diagnosing vision health.
The medical assistant should document the result as 20/30 in the patient's medical record. This means that the patient has a visual acuity of 20/30, which is considered normal. The fact that the patient missed one letter on the 20/30 line is not significant enough to change the documented result.