Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeMedium
A medical assistant is rooming a patient and reviewing the medication list from the previous visit. The patient states they stopped taking lisinopril two months ago due to a cough and started taking an herbal supplement instead. What is the medical assistant's most appropriate action?
- ALeave the medication list unchanged since the physician will review it
- BDocument only the herbal supplement and remove all reference to lisinopril
- CAdvise the patient to resume the lisinopril immediately
- DUpdate the medication list to reflect the discontinued medication and add the new supplement
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Update the medication list to reflect the discontinued medication and add the new supplement
Medication reconciliation requires accurately updating the current medication list at each visit, including discontinued medications and new supplements, so the provider has complete and current information.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Leaving outdated information risks medication errors and incomplete records.
- B. Removing all reference to lisinopril erases important historical information about a discontinued medication.
- C. Advising medication changes is outside the medical assistant's scope of practice.
Medication Reconciliation
The process of maintaining an accurate and current list of a patient's medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements, updated at every visit.
- Include start/stop dates and reasons for changes when possible
- Involves prescription, OTC, and herbal/supplement use
- Critical for preventing medication errors and interactions
Memory trick: Reconcile like balancing a checkbook—every medication in or out must be recorded.