Question

Four clients want to see the physician today, but only one appointment slot is available . None of the clients presents an emergency. Students must select one of the four clients to be seen today.

Client 1: New client with earache
Client 2: Medicaid client with sore throat
Client 3: Friend if physician-employer with sinus trouble
Client 4: Problem client who complains all the time about nothing, has cough, and says sputum is red-tinged
First, state your system or criteria for selection (give your three examples of patient selection, when scheduling appointments). Second, select which client gets the appointment slot. Third, support your choice based on your stated system or criteria.

Answer 1

When selecting a patient for the appointment slot, a criteria or system can be used to ensure fairness and prioritize the most urgent cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

When selecting a patient for the appointment slot, a criteria or system can be used to ensure fairness and prioritize the most urgent cases. Three examples of patient selection criteria could include:

1. Severity of symptoms: The patient with the most severe symptoms or condition may be given priority.
2. Urgency: The patient whose condition requires immediate attention may be seen first.
3. Previous appointment history: Patients who have been waiting longer or have missed previous appointments may be given priority.

Based on these criteria, the client who should get the appointment slot would depend on the specific details provided. However, considering the information given, it is likely that Client 1, the new client with an earache, would be prioritized as earaches can be quite painful and may require prompt attention.

This choice is based on the severity of symptoms and the urgency of the condition.