Questions: True or false? A patient calls complaining of painful urination with traces of blood in the urine. The patient's physician is out for the day. The medical assistant should schedule an appointment for the next day. True False

The answer is False.

Explanation:

• In a medical office setting, when a patient calls with symptoms such as painful urination and traces of blood in the urine, it is important to assess the urgency of the situation. These symptoms could indicate a urinary tract infection or another condition that may require prompt medical attention.
• If the patient's physician is unavailable, the medical assistant should not simply schedule an appointment for the next day without further assessment. Instead, the medical assistant should follow the office protocol for handling such situations, which may include consulting with another available healthcare provider or advising the patient to seek immediate care if the symptoms are severe or worsening.
• Therefore, the statement is false because the medical assistant should take additional steps to ensure the patient receives appropriate and timely care.