Why should a new patient arrive 15-20 minutes prior to an appointment?

• To allow patients time to find the office

• So the doctor can meet the patient first

• To complete new patient registration

Alicia, an assistant, is preparing to call an outpatient facility to set up an appointment. In addition to the patient's name and contact information, what other patient information will she need to provide?

Responses

• Date of the most recent complete physical examination

• A description of the patient

• Date of birth and reason for the test

Sophia has been asked to schedule a hip replacement surgery for a patient. What type of hospitalization will this be?

• Optional

• Elective

• Effective

• Emergency

Dr. Velasquez has been delayed at the hospital for another hour. How should the assistant respond?

• Hope the physician will arrive shortly

• Call the hospital to complain

• Notify all scheduled patients and give them the option to reschedule

• Make excuses for the physician's delay

• Tell only the patients in the office of the physician's delay

Under what circumstance might a physician refer a patient to another physician for a consultation?

• It is the medical office assistant's recommendation.

• The physician would like a second opinion on patient care.

• The consulting physician needs new business.

• The physician has little time for established patients.

Which type of hospitalization is not planned in advance?

• Elective hospitalization

• Emergency hospitalization

• All of the above

What should the assistant do when a patient stops at the front desk after an appointment?

• Exercise proper customer service and collect the required payment

• Review the patient's chart to make sure it is complete

• Check if the patient needs a follow-up visit

• All of the above

How can an assistant determine if a person is a new patient?

• New patients have been to the medical office only once before.

• New patients only schedule comprehensive physical examinations.

• New patients have never been seen, or they have not been seen in the past three years.

Medical office assistants are responsible for scheduling and canceling appointments.

• True

• False

What is the purpose of practice-management software?

• To schedule routine equipment maintenance

• To organize newspaper and magazine subscriptions

• To make the reception desk look nice

• To allow staff to complete tasks electronically

• To remind assistants of important tasks