If paper-based medical records are used, what does the medical assistant do with letters?

When dealing with paper-based medical records, the appropriate action for a medical assistant regarding letters is to attach them to the medical record. This practice ensures that all relevant patient information, including correspondence such as letters, is kept together in an organized manner and easily accessible for future reference.

Attaching letters to the medical record is crucial for maintaining a comprehensive and accurate patient history. This allows healthcare providers to have all pertinent information at hand, which can be vital for ongoing treatment, care continuity, and legal documentation. It also facilitates efficient communication within the healthcare team, ensuring that everyone involved in the patient's care is informed about any correspondence that may impact the patient's health status or treatment plan.

Other potential actions, such as discarding, sending, or filing letters separately, do not contribute to maintaining a complete patient record and could lead to gaps in documentation that could affect patient care and legal compliance.