Question

Please read the following scenario and respond to the question below in the form of essay

Claudia, a​ CMA, is working with Mr. Harrington in the examination room. Mr. Harrington is 73 years old and does not have any living immediate family members. His closest relative is a cousin who lives more than five hours away. Within the medical​practice, Mr. Harrington has the reputation of being grouchy at times and has been known to lose his temper easily. Claudia is completing his vital signs and​ measurements, a required component of the physical examination document that must be returned to his life insurance company. Since his last visit five months​ ago, Mr. Harrington has gained 16 pounds. As Claudia is exiting the​ room, Mr. Harrington calls​ out, ​"Be sure to mark my weight on my physical form the same as it was on my last visit. They​ don't need to know​ I've gained any​ weight." Claudia​ replies,

​"​I'm not sure I can do​ that, Mr. Harrington.​ I'll see what I can​ do."

Mr. Harrington responds by​ saying, ​"Nurse, I'm asking you politely. I​ don't want to get upset. Who cares about a mere 16​pounds? Just make that​ change, okay?"

Feeling​ pressured, Claudia​ exclaims,

​"First of​ all, I am a medical assistant and not a nurse. And​ secondly, I am not going to lie on your medical records. If​ you're concerned about your​ weight, you will need to talk with the doctor when he comes in to see​ you." With​that, she turns out of the examination room and closes the door behind her.

Review the boldface statements. Was​ Claudia's responses to Mr. Harrington​ appropriate?

Answer 1

Here medical assistant Claudia seems like she's under pressure by the conversation she just had with Mr Harrington who is 73 years old, who doesn't have any immediate living family member nearby.

It is already understood from his history that he has every possibility in his life to get stressed and get provoked easily.

It is not a good idea to blame him for his frustration and anger, because it's a reflection of his own life. However he cannot force anybody to lie for him since it is against the law and medical ethics.

It is true that to get insurance coverage one need to present a fitness certificate to insurance companies. Mr Harrington forces the medical assistant thinking she's a registered nurse. However she cannot fill his physical form.

When she replied in the first place it didn't make him happy and he changed his tone of talk and were sounding like a command that she needs to obey it.

She cleared with him that she's not a nurse and you need to talk to your doctor regarding this issue, she sounded rude here.

Was​ Claudia's responses to Mr. Harrington​ appropriate?

Considering the physical and psychological conditions of the patient, it was an impolite replay delivered by Claudia.

She could have used a humble voice and body language to make him understand that she's not the nurse, also the dangers involved in lying for patient in medical profession.

She could describe the policies and legal formalities associated with it in simple words to him. If both patient and the assistant loose their cool at the office would create unnecessary conflicts.

Claudia must behaved appropriately by understanding the patient's conditions, it's true since she's not a nurse, she has limited access to his files to study more about him.

But at the end of the if our aim is deliver a quality care, everyone in the health care system must be patient enough to go detail with their patients no matter how bad we feel from patient's talks since we are trained for it hence we must practice it.