What task should a medical assistant have a patient complete before gowning for a physical examination?

Before a patient gowns for a physical examination, it is important for the medical assistant to ensure that the patient has emptied their bladder. This is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, an empty bladder can enhance the comfort of the patient during the examination, particularly if the provider needs to perform an abdominal examination or assess the pelvic area. A full bladder may cause discomfort and can also hinder the provider's ability to perform certain assessments effectively.

Secondly, having the patient empty their bladder as part of the preparatory steps can also facilitate clearer diagnostic results. For instance, if urine testing is also part of the visit, ensuring the bladder is emptied can help obtain a more accurate sample later.

While taking vital signs, reviewing medical history, and signing consent forms are important tasks that are typically performed at various stages of the visit, the act of emptying the bladder is specifically relevant to the physical examination process and enhances the patient's experience and the overall effectiveness of the examination.