Question

Which of the following statements made by an MA demonstrates an understanding of required patient identification techniques?

a. "I can obtain the patient's name by looking in the patient's chart prior to obtaining blood samples."
b. "I will ask the patient to state and spell her full name and provide her date of birth before administering vaccines."
c. "I can look at the daily schedule to obtain the patient's name and the reason for the visit when checking the patient in."
d. "I will ask a coworker to confirm the identity of the patient prior to collecting a urine specimen."

Answer 1

The statement 'I will ask the patient to state and spell her full name and provide her date of birth before administering vaccines.' is correct because it directly involves the patient in the identity verification process to ensure their safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement made by a Medical Assistant (MA) that demonstrates an understanding of required patient identification techniques is: "I will ask the patient to state and spell her full name and provide her date of birth before administering vaccines."

Asking a patient to state and spell their full name and provide their date of birth is a direct way to verify a patient's identity while also checking their awareness and cognitive abilities. This practice ensures accurate identification and is vital for patient safety, as per the protocols for confirming a patient's identity before administering any medical intervention, such as blood samples, surgery, or vaccines. It helps prevent medical errors and ensures that privacy and consent are respected. The other options either rely on potentially incorrect or incomplete information (such as charts or schedules) or delegate the responsibility to a coworker, which is not a standard procedure for validating identity.