Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

Which of the following incoming calls should the medical assistant transfer immediately to the physician?

1. The emergency room calling about admitting an established patient with chest pain

2. A patient calling to reschedule an appointment

3. A pharmacy calling to confirm a prescription refill

4. An insurance company calling to verify patient coverage

The correct answer is: The emergency room calling about admitting an established patient with chest pain

The appropriate action for the medical assistant is to transfer the call from the emergency room about admitting a patient with chest pain directly to the physician. This situation is critical, as chest pain can indicate a serious medical condition, such as a heart attack or other cardiovascular issues, which require immediate attention. Timely communication with the physician is essential in such emergencies to ensure that the necessary preparations for the patient's admission and care are put in place swiftly. In contrast, the other options involve routine matters that do not require immediate physician intervention. Rescheduling an appointment or confirming a prescription refill are standard administrative tasks that can be handled by the medical assistant without the physician's direct involvement. Similarly, verifying patient coverage with an insurance company is an important but routine administrative function that does not need to disrupt the physician's clinical responsibilities. Therefore, the urgency and potential risk associated with the patient's condition in the emergency call make it paramount to connect that call to the physician without delay.