Administrative & LegalQuestion 100 of 100
A patient telephones and reports crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm with sweating. What should the medical assistant do?
a.Offer the next available appointment in three days
b.Advise the patient to take an antacid and call back tomorrow
c.Place the caller on hold until the provider finishes the current visit
d.Instruct the patient to call 911 or emergency services immediately, stay on the line as facility protocol allows, and alert the provider
Explanation
Crushing chest pain radiating to the arm with diaphoresis suggests a possible heart attack, so activating emergency medical services immediately is the priority, along with notifying the provider and documenting the call. Routine appointments, antacids, or being placed on hold delay time-critical treatment. Minutes matter because early intervention preserves heart muscle.
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