A medical assistant should report which of the following as outside the expected reference range when obtaining vitals?

A. Call for the provider. Calling for the provider may not address the immediate concern of the patient’s anger and can escalate the situation if not handled calmly first.
B. Speak to the patient using a low tone of voice. Speaking in a calm and low tone can help de-escalate the situation and show that the assistant is attentive and empathetic.
C. Tell the patient to calm down. Telling a patient to calm down can come across as dismissive and may worsen their frustration.
D. Respond in the same tone as the patient. Matching the patient’s angry tone is unprofessional and can escalate the situation further.

Correct answer: A
A. Ensure the otoscope is in the room. Ensuring that the otoscope and other necessary equipment are in the room is an important step in preparing the room for a physical examination.
B. Replace the half-full sharps containers. Sharps containers should be replaced when they are three-quarters full, not necessarily when they are half-full. This action, while important, is not specific to preparing for a general physical examination.
C. Obtain preauthorization from insurance. Preauthorization is an administrative task that is not directly related to preparing an examination room.
D. Sterilize counter surfaces in the room. Cleaning and disinfecting counter surfaces is important for infection control but typically would have been done after the last patient. This action is less directly related to preparing for a general physical exam compared to ensuring the necessary equipment is present.