This blog post is a writing assignment for MAST 1060: Medical Office Procedures, part of the Health Care Management (HC23) Associate of Applied Science Degree program at Southern Crescent Technical College.

“Scenario: Jessica McMullin, a 20-year-old woman, presents as a new patient. She looks frightened and is shaking when she fills out the paperwork. You later find out that she has a lump in her breast, and her aunt died of breast cancer. Role-play the communication between the administrative medical assistant and the patient” (French, 2019, Job Skill 4-10).

This scenario requires two people: Jessica, a new patient with a lump in her breast, and Amy, a medical assistant. Jessica is waiting anxiously in the exam room. Amy needs to gather information about Jessica and her visit to the doctor.

Amy enters the exam room, looks at Jessica, smiles warmly, and greets her. Jessica responds quietly, not looking at Amy or smiling back. Amy noticed Jessica appeared anxious in the waiting room earlier and still appears nervous. Jessica rocks side to side and fidgets with a small Pop It keychain. Amy comments about the toy. She said, “Oh! Those are fun!” Jessica told Amy her nephew had many of them, and she tried one at a family gathering. She could not put it down, and her family remembered and gave some to her the following Christmas. Amy responded, “That is great when family notices and remembers something like that. That gift meant something, and they are great for helping you focus and feel less anxious.”

Amy takes Jessica’s vitals. Her blood pressure is high, and her pulse is very fast. Amy asks Jessica if she is nervous. Jessica silently nods her head yes. Amy empathetically says, “I understand how you feel. The doctor can certainly have that effect on many people.”

Amy sits several feet away with an open posture. She looks at Jessica and asks what brings her to see the doctor today. Jessica says she found a lump in her breast, and Amy asks for more details. Amy asks Jessica about her medical history, including if she had a mammogram and if anyone in her family had cancer. Jessica said her aunt died from breast cancer and that she is a month behind getting her mammogram. Amy now understands why Jessica is so anxious. Cancer is serious, and she suspects she could have it. Amy calmly says, “We do not yet have an answer, but we will do our best to find it for you. Right now, we need to focus on lowering your blood pressure because we do know about that. The mammographer will come and get you shortly to take you to get your mammogram. While you wait, close your eyes and take deep breaths like this.” Amy demonstrates a few deep breaths with her eyes closed. Then she says, “When she finishes the mammogram, I will return and check your blood pressure and pulse one more time.”

Amy leaves the exam room, and Jessica gets her mammogram. Amy returns to check on Jessica. Her blood pressure is lower, and her pulse is slower. Amy says, “Your pulse and blood pressure look much better. Do you feel calmer now?” Jessica says, “I actually do. Thank you so much!” Amy tells Jessica she will give her a call when they have the results of the mammogram (French, 2019, 4-3h, Procedure 4-8, Job Skill 4-10).

References

French, L. L. (2018). Administrative Medical Assisting. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Featured Image: Stock Photo, Photo Source: 123RF PLUS