ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

If a patient complains of pain in the right hip joint but the requisition requests a left femur examination, what should be done?

1. Perform a right hip examination

2. Perform a left femur examination

3. Perform both a right hip and a left femur examination

4. Check with the referring physician

The correct answer is: Perform both a right hip and a left femur examination

When faced with a situation where a patient is experiencing pain in one area, such as the right hip, but the requisition only requests an examination of the left femur, it's essential to consider the best course of action for patient care. Performing both a right hip and a left femur examination can be justified in this scenario. The rationale behind this choice lies in the potential for diagnostic information that could emerge from evaluating both areas. The patient's complaint of pain may indicate an issue in the right hip that warrants investigation, even if it wasn't the primary focus of the requisition. By examining both the left femur and the right hip, a more comprehensive assessment can be made, which may lead to identifying or ruling out possible conditions affecting the right hip joint. Additionally, this approach demonstrates a commitment to patient-centered care, ensuring that their concerns are taken seriously and addressed accordingly. Following such a protocol helps to avoid potential oversights that could arise from strictly adhering to the requisition without considering the patient's reported symptoms. In any case where a discrepancy exists between the patient's symptoms and the request, involving the physician to clarify the situation could also be crucial. However, in the absence of further instruction or clarification from the referring physician, performing both examinations aligns well with