California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

When a patient is referred to a specialist for treatment, the assistant should do what?

1. Wait for the specialist to contact them

2. Provide verbal information only

3. Send a copy of the pertinent information to the specialist

4. Handle all treatment internally without referral

The correct answer is: Send a copy of the pertinent information to the specialist

When a patient is referred to a specialist for treatment, it is important for the assistant to send a copy of the pertinent information to the specialist. This is because the specialist needs as much information as possible in order to provide appropriate treatment to the patient. Option A, waiting for the specialist to contact them, may delay treatment and could potentially lead to missed or incorrect information. Option B, providing verbal information only, may result in important details being left out or forgotten. Option D, handling all treatment internally without referral, may not be appropriate if the condition requires specialized care that the primary practitioner may not be able to provide. Therefore, option C is the best choice for ensuring that the specialist has all necessary information to provide the best treatment for the patient.