Patient Safety & LawQuestion 90 of 100
A patient who has been coming to the practice for six years arrives for a filling. What should be done with the medical history?
a.Review and update it at this visit, including current medications and any recent health changes
b.Use the history taken at the first visit, since it is already on file
c.Update it only if the patient volunteers new information
d.Update it once every five years
Explanation
The medical history must be reviewed and updated at each visit, because new medications, allergies, pregnancies, and conditions such as recent cardiac events change treatment and drug safety decisions. Relying on an old form or waiting for the patient to volunteer information misses changes the patient may not realize are relevant. A five-year interval is far too long to detect clinically significant developments.
Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- An assistant writes the wrong tooth number in a paper chart entry. What is the correct way to fix it?
- Which combination of elements must be covered for a patient's consent to be considered informed?
- A patient asks the assistant, "Do you think this dark spot on my x-ray is a cavity?" What is the appropriate response?
- A patient with a history of angina develops crushing chest pain in the chair. Besides stopping treatment and activating emergency medical services, which drug from the office emergency kit is typically indicated?
- Where must Safety Data Sheets for the chemicals used in a dental office be kept?
- An assistant pours a disinfectant concentrate into a spray bottle that will be used later in the day by other staff. What must be done with the bottle?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against DANB Radiation Health & Safety (RHS) + Infection Control (ICE) Exams · How we review