A medical administrative assistant is preparing to create a patient file placeholder in the facility's electronic health record (EHR). Apart from the patient's name, which of the following pieces of information should the assistant obtain to maintain pre-appointment communication with the patient? Primary care provider Insurance company Telephone number Date of birth

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking us to identify the most important piece of information that a medical administrative assistant should obtain to maintain pre-appointment communication with a patient. The options provided are: Primary care provider, Insurance company, Telephone number, and Date of birth.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />While all the options are important in a medical context, the most crucial piece of information for maintaining pre-appointment communication is the patient's contact information. This is because the assistant needs to be able to reach the patient to remind them of their appointment, answer any questions they may have, and provide any necessary updates or changes.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The patient's contact information is typically their telephone number. This is because it is the most direct and immediate way to reach the patient. The other options, such as the primary care provider, insurance company, and date of birth, are also important but are not as immediately necessary for pre-appointment communication.