Question

Which of the following responses should an EKG technician make to a patient in an outpatient clinic who is upset that the technician cannot share the results of the tracing?

1) "I'm sorry, but I only run the strip. I'm not trained to know what's on it."
2) "I understand your frustration. My role as the technician is to conduct the test correctly. The provider is qualified to interpret the results."
3) "I know it's difficult to wait, but from what I can see, you have nothing to worry about."
4) "I wish I could help you. Some providers allow technicians to discuss the tracing, but your provider won't let me communicate results to patients."

Answer 1

An EKG technician should empathize with the patient's frustration and explain their role in the process.

Step-by-step explanation:

An EKG technician should responsively empathize with the patient's frustration and explain their role in the process. The appropriate response would be number 2) "I understand your frustration. My role as the technician is to conduct the test correctly. The provider is qualified to interpret the results." It is important for the technician to clarify that they are not trained to interpret the results, and that the provider is responsible for sharing and explaining the results to the patient.