A 19-year-old Hispanic lady arrives at the clinic complaining of nausea and stomach pain. She has difficulty describing her pain and usually gestures to her lower abdomen. When asked if she is pregnant or sexually active, the patient nods her head no. When asked when she had her last menstrual cycle, she nods and responds "now." She is a single woman who moved to the United States a few months ago. The physical examination reveals mild abdominal discomfort with no rebound or guarding and stable vital signs. The patient is sent home after being diagnosed with food poisoning. She is rushed to the emergency department by ambulance later that day after having significant stomach pain and loss of consciousness. A diagnosis of ruptured ectopic pregnancy is made. Which of the following interventions would most likely have prevented the delay in diagnosis?

Question

A 19-year-old Hispanic lady arrives at the clinic complaining of nausea and stomach pain. She has difficulty describing her pain and usually gestures to her lower abdomen. When asked if she is pregnant or sexually active, the patient nods her head no. When asked when she had her last menstrual cycle, she nods and responds "now." She is a single woman who moved to the United States a few months ago. The physical examination reveals mild abdominal discomfort with no rebound or guarding and stable vital signs. The patient is sent home after being diagnosed with food poisoning. She is rushed to the emergency department by ambulance later that day after having significant stomach pain and loss of consciousness. A diagnosis of ruptured ectopic pregnancy is made.  Which of the following interventions would most likely have prevented the delay in diagnosis?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Physicians must be able to identify patients with limited English proficiency and ensure that professional interpreters are made available in high-risk clinical situations.

A 19-Year-Old Hispanic Lady Arrives at the Clinic Complaining of Nausea