Final answer:
In outpatient coding, 'uncertain diagnosis' should not be used because it is not definitive, and 'patient's symptoms' are subjective and not suitable for precise coding. Objective data such as 'chief complaints' and 'patient's signs' are preferred for accurate medical coding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is about outpatient coding and specifically what should not be used by a medical assistant for this purpose. In outpatient coding, it is important to use objective data that can be quantified and verified. While chief complaints and patient signs are objective and can be used in medical coding, uncertain diagnosis should not be used for outpatient coding as it is not definitive.
Patient's symptoms, on the other hand, are subjective and cannot be clinically confirmed or objectively measured with precision. Symptoms such as nausea, pain, and loss of appetite are felt by the patient but are not easily quantifiable. Medical professionals might try to quantify symptoms using scales like the Wong-Baker Faces pain-rating scale or by measuring skin conductance fluctuations, but these methods still can't provide the concrete evidence needed for accurate coding.
Thus, when it comes to outpatient coding, uncertain diagnoses, and subjective symptoms are not reliable sources and should not be used. Instead, objective signs and clearly established diagnoses that are backed by clinical confirmation are the mainstay of accurate medical coding.