Alice Jameson is a 69-year-old who has been suffering from flu-like symptoms for several days. She calls her primary care provider to make an appointment. The conversation went as follows: Receptionist: “Mid-Town Medical Clinic, this is Marianne; please hold.”

After a 2- to 3-minute wait, the receptionist comes back on the line.

Receptionist: “Thank you for holding. Can I help you?”

Patient: “This is Alice Jameson. I am feeling terrible. I think I have the flu. But I shouldn’t have the flu; I got the flu shot last fall. Can I see my doctor?”

Receptionist: “Alice, we are so busy with flu patients, I don’t have an opening until day after tomorrow. Can you come at 3:30 in the afternoon?”

After a brief pause, Alice responds, hesitantly.

Patient: “No, I don’t think so. If I don’t get better, I guess I’ll go to my neighborhood emergency care clinic.”

Receptionist: “Okay. Bye.”

The receptionist at Mid-Town Medical Clinic does not learn that Alice has had a fever of 101 degrees for 2 days and does not recall that she had surgery to place an artificial heart valve just 8 months ago until after the call was ended.

2. Initial Post: Create a new thread and answer all three parts of the initial prompt below

What steps should be used to determine the level of E/M service.
What is the source of information you used to determine these steps?
Explain why it is important to choose the correct level of E/M service.