Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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| 1. | Who
is the legal owner of the actual chart or original hardcopy of patient’s
record? a. | the
patient | b. | the physician or agency where services were
provided | c. | the patient’s insurance company | d. | both the patient
and the physician | | |
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| 2. | The
best style to use when composing business letters in the medical office is: a. | the one with
which you are most comfortable | b. | the one that is preferred by your
physician | c. | the one that is most formal | d. | the one that is
highly technical and organized | | |
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| 3. | Which
statement best describes the practice known as “fee splitting”? a. | It is the
unethical practice of basing the physician’s fee on the success of the
treatment. | b. | It is the unethical practice in which physicians are paid for
referring patients. | c. | It refers to the lowering of the physician’s fee as a way
to help poor patients. | d. | It is an appropriate method of allowing two physicians to work
together in treating a patient. | | |
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| 4. | Which
accounting system requires the least initial expense and training to set up and use? a. | double-entry | b. | pegboard | c. | single-entry | d. | there is very little difference among the
three | | |
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| 5. | Which
one of the following greetings is recommended as being appropriate for handling incoming calls in an
extremely busy medical office? a. | “Good morning. This is Dr. Bewell’s office. Ms.
Blakely speaking.” | b. | “Dr. Bewell’s office. Ms. Blakely
speaking.” | c. | “Thank you for calling Dr. Bewell’s office. This is
Ms. Blakely.” | d. | “Dr. Bewell’s office.” | | |
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| 6. | Why
might a physician receive only $185.00 for a procedure for which he billed the insurance company
$255.00? a. | his fee profile
has increased since being set by the company | b. | the insurance
company’s fee schedule allows only $185.00 | c. | $225.00 is above
the maximum range charged by other physicians in the area | d. | all of the
above | | |
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| 7. | If
you are using a computerized medical record system, which of the following is a common and efficient
way to provide backups? a. | copy all files onto diskettes | b. | print out paper
copies of all information that is stored in the computer | c. | save and file
the handwritten notes prepared during office visits | d. | it is not
necessary to retain backup materials | | |
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| 8. | A
tickler file is an effective organizational tool to help the medical assistant: a. | mail appointment
reminders | c. | learn to
schedule efficiently | b. | remember patient’s names | d. | manage office hours effectively | | | | |
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| 9. | The
work of sorting and manipulating information is performed in the computer by the: a. | application
software | c. | CD-ROM | b. | CPU | d. | ROM | | | | |
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| 10. | An
ICD-9 code identifies the: a. | procedure | c. | condition | b. | supplies | d. | attending
physician | | | | |
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| 11. | An
emancipated minor is a person under legal age who: a. | has had a
child | c. | works full
time | b. | is in
college | d. | lives
independently of her parents | | | | |
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| 12. | If
you want to transfer paper files to a computerized system without inputting all the data from the
keyboard, you could use a: a. | modem | c. | scanner | b. | disk operating
system | d. | magnetic disk
drive | | | | |
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| 13. | Identify the action that would not address the safety problems that can occur with
traditional office filing drawer cabinets. a. | lock drawers when not in use | b. | bolt cabinets to
the wall | c. | open only one drawer at a time | d. | close drawers
completely when not in use | | |
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| 14. | Which
of the following best describes the general meaning of “screening” telephone
calls? a. | preventing calls
from reaching the physician | b. | handling them at the lowest level
possible | c. | finding out to whom they should be
directed | d. | determining whether they are
emergencies | | |
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| 15. | Standard filing procedures include all of the following EXCEPT: a. | organize material in
folders with most recent dates in the back of the folder | b. | write the date
on each piece of paper that is added to the patient’s file | c. | remove all paper
clips from papers to be filed | d. | place the top edges of papers to your left when putting them
into folders | | |
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| 16. | Which
professional organization would be most valuable for you to join if you are interested in working as
a medical language specialist and preparing various types of medical reports? a. | American
Association of Medical Assistants | b. | American Medical Technologists | c. | Professional
Secretaries International | d. | American Association for Medical
Transcription | | |
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| 17. | Which
of the following is a photographic file?
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| 18. | The
medical specialty that deals with the causes and effects of diseases is called: a. | internal
medicine | c. | immunology | b. | preventive medicine | d. | pathology | | | | |
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| 19. | When
should you deposit checks received from patients and other sources? a. | at the same time
you pay the bills | b. | as soon as possible after you receive
them | c. | when you
reconcile the bank statement each month | d. | at the end of every week | | |
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| 20. | Enunciation is: a. | the choice of words | c. | to articulate clear sounds | b. | the highness or
lowness of sound | d. | a change in
pitch | | | | |
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| 21. | ____
is simply deciding which tasks are most important. a. | Modification | c. | Prioritizing | b. | Teaching | d. | Procrastinating | | | | |
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| 22. | A
telephone call that is operator assisted and includes several doctors at separate offices is
a: a. | conference
call | c. | international
call | b. | message-unit
call | d. | referenced
call | | | | |
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| 23. | A
officer of the U.S. courts who serves as a messenger to the judge is called a: a. | marshal | c. | bailiff | b. | deputy | d. | reporter | | | | |
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| 24. | Which
of the following would not be an appropriate responsibility of the medical assistant regarding office
copiers and printers? a. | repair machinery that is broken | b. | study the
manuals that accompany the machines | c. | learn how to use all equipment
properly | d. | be familiar with the service
contracts | | |
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| 25. | Which
of the following is an example of computer software? a. | e-mail | c. | floppy
diskette | b. | internal memory | d. | Word 2000 | | | | |
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| 26. | What
is the best way to decide if patients need special assistance in disrobing or otherwise preparing for
an exam or treatment? a. | ask all patients if you can be of
assistance | b. | wait for patients to request help | c. | use special
consideration with patients who display a disability | d. | offer help to
patients who appear ill or upset | | |
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| 27. | Which
healthcare professional is trained to practice medicine under the supervision of a
physician? a. | medical
technologist | c. | medical
assistant | b. | paramedic | d. | physician assistant | | | | |
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| 28. | The
principal reason for requesting feedback when communicating with a patient is to determine if
he: a. | has a vision
problem | c. | understands what
you are saying | b. | is cooperative | d. | is mentally alert | | | | |
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| 29. | Who
is the legal owner of the information stored in a patient’s record? a. | the
patient | c. | the
patient’s insurance company | b. | the physician | d. | both the patient and the physician | | | | |
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| 30. | The
purpose of out guides is to ensure that: a. | the location of file folders can be
monitored | b. | individual files are easy to locate in the file
drawers | c. | temporary file folders can be easily
identified | d. | folders do not slide under each other | | |
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| 31. | In
which situation should you request the bank to issue a stop-payment order on a check that you wrote
in payment for a medical supply order? a. | the check was accidentally written for more than was
owed | b. | the payment did
not reach the payee within a reasonable amount of time | c. | the vendor to
whom you wrote the check refuses to deliver your order | d. | all of the
above | | |
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| 32. | What
would be the best way for newly graduated medical assistants to become good team players in the
medical office? a. | demonstrate
consideration and appreciation for the experienced staff | b. | share what they
learned in school about the latest techniques in health care | c. | be careful to
only perform those tasks designated in their job description | d. | try to develop
friendships with everyone on the staff | | |
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| 33. | Which
statement is true regarding the status of students during the externship, as compared to those of
regular employees? a. | They should not waste their supervisor’s time asking a lot
of questions. | b. | They cannot be sued for medical
malpractice. | c. | Attendance expectations are generally less strict for
them. | d. | They are expected to perform under the same professional
standards. | | |
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| 34. | General and medical dictionaries and spelling guides are: a. | not necessary if
you have a word-processing spell checker | b. | necessary only if you have trouble with
spelling | c. | essential tools for every medical
office | d. | books to learn from while you are in
school | | |
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| 35. | The
purpose of a charge slip is to: a. | provide a preprinted itemized billing
statement | b. | explain charges to patients in advance of
treatment | c. | provide estimates of future
treatments | d. | allow patients to apply for credit | | |
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| 36. | Which
is the most important ethical reason for maintaining complete and accurate patient
records? a. | receive
compensation from health insurance companies | b. | comply with
governmental regulatory bodies | c. | protect the physician from malpractice
lawsuits | d. | ensure that patients receive consistent and appropriate medical
treatment | | |
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| 37. | Which
of the following is not a type of printer? a. | monochrome | c. | laser | b. | dot
matrix | d. | ink
jet | | | | |
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| 38. | Patient instruction sheets include: a. | preparation for
X-rays and tests | c. | office
policies | b. | how to collect a urine specimen | d. | job descriptions | | | | |
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| 39. | Numeric filing systems offer all of the following advantages over other systems
EXCEPT: a. | locating
individual files takes less time | b. | number of misplaced files is
decreased | c. | patient confidentiality is increased | d. | learning to use
them is easier | | |
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| 40. | When
informing patients that you must postpone their appointments for at least two weeks, it is good
practice to: a. | give them the
name of one or more alternative physicians | b. | explain exactly why the physician cannot see
them | c. | offer them
priority over patients already scheduled in the future | d. | be extremely
apologetic about the inconvenience | | |
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| 41. | If
you are in the habit of preplanning phone calls, this means that you always: a. | practice ahead
of time what you are going to say in the call | b. | prepare a
detailed list of what you are going to discuss | c. | have any needed
files or reference materials in front of you | d. | make a master
list in the morning of calls that needed to be made during the day | | |
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| 42. | Which
approach to providing healthcare has most influenced the practice of medicine in the United States in
the past ten years? a. | insurance coverage through managed
care | b. | organization of
physicians into medical group practices | c. | government payments for medical care | d. | increase in
physician control of managing patient treatment | | |
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| 43. | A
system that selects the order of patients to receive urgent medical treatment is often referred to
as: a. | triage | c. | streamlining | b. | selection | d. | matrixing | | | | |
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| 44. | Which
legislation affects the quality of laboratory reports?
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| 45. | Which
patients should be personally escorted to exam and treatment areas and given detailed instructions
about what they are to do? a. | new | c. | frequent | b. | established | d. | all of the
above | | | | |
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| 46. | The
amount of the fee for printed checks for the checking account is _____ the balance in the
checkbook. a. | added
to | b. | subtracted
from | | | | |
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| 47. | Which
of the following questions is legally allowed during an initial interview for employment as a medical
assistant? a. | When did you
graduate? | c. | Do you plan to
have children? | b. | Are you married? | d. | What church do you attend? | | | | |
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| 48. | Which
letter style combines efficiency with an attractive page layout? a. | modified-block | b. | block | c. | simplified | d. | modified-block with indented
paragraphs | | |
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| 49. | Which
codes occasionally require a fifth digit in order to be more specific?
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| 50. | Within how many hours should a medical report marked “Stat” be completed and
placed in the patient’s file?
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| 51. | Which
of the following ICD diagnoses CANNOT be found in a table? a. | cancer | c. | poisoning | b. | hypertension | d. | diabetes | | | | |
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| 52. | Which
of the following dates is written correctly for inclusion in the heading of a
letter? a. | 5/1/99 | c. | May 1,
1999 | b. | May
1st, 1999 | d. | May 1,
’99 | | | | |
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| 53. | Which
of the following examples would you enter in the “credit” column? a. | payments
received for medical services rendered | b. | supplies that you charged and will pay for in the
future | c. | the maximum amounts that you allow patients to carry on their
accounts | d. | the payment terms that you arrange with
patients | | |
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| 54. | If a
patient tells you that a close friend will pay his medical bills if he is unable to do so, you
must: a. | orally verify
this arrangement with the friend | b. | request that the patient give his friend power of
attorney | c. | secure a written agreement from the
friend | d. | meet with the friend in person | | |
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| 55. | If a
physician decides to end his professional relationship with a patient, what must he do in order to
help avoid being sued for abandonment? a. | call the patient personally and explain that he is withdrawing
from his case | b. | send the patient’s records to a physician who he believes
competent to handle the case | c. | thoroughly document in writing his reasons and methods for
withdrawing from the case | d. | return any money collected for the most recent treatment
given | | |
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| 56. | What
is the major advantage of the computer over the word processor? a. | documents can be
created more quickly | b. | errors can be corrected more easily | c. | you can use it
for more tasks | d. | it is easier to learn to use | | |
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| 57. | Which
is NOT a good way of scheduling? a. | wave | c. | modified wave | b. | double-booking | d. | categorization
or grouping | | | | |
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| 58. | What
contribution was made by Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis that was drastically reduced deaths that commonly
took place in hospitals? a. | promoted the use of vaccinations in
Hungary | b. | insisted on the disinfection of physician’s hands before
assisting with childbirth | c. | encouraged better educational methods for hospital
personnel | d. | discovered that heat killed disease-causing microorganisms in
contaminated water | | |
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| 59. | Which
of the following is most appropriate to include in a patient brochure? a. | fee range for
consultations | d. | record retention
policy | b. | office manager’s name | e. | telephone triage policy | c. | philosophy of
the practice | | | | |
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| 60. | What
is the first step of developing a plan? a. | research | d. | execution | b. | planning the
concept | e. | evaluation | c. | assessment | | | | |
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| 61. | What
is represented by the number in the “balance forward” box on the check
stub? a. | the amount of
the check to be written | b. | the amount you have in the account before writing the
check | c. | the amount you have remaining in the account after writing the
check | d. | the total deposits made since the last check was
written | | |
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| 62. | What
is the most serious negative result of misspelling medical terms on patient records and in
correspondence? a. | appearance of
professional incompetence | b. | embarrassment for the medical
assistant | c. | errors in patient treatment | d. | failure to meet
requirements of insurance auditors | | |
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| 63. | If
you are using a “direct filing system” in your office, this means that: a. | all employees
have direct access to the files | b. | files are organized logically by
subject | c. | you can locate a file if you know its
name | d. | once organized,
it is never necessary to shift the folders | | |
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| 64. | Which
quality in a medical assistant is most likely to promote positive patient relations in the medical
office? a. | behaves in a
businesslike manner | b. | maintained high grades in medical assisting
training | c. | is attractive | d. | has a sincere
interest in patient welfare | | |
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| 65. | The
use of phonetic writing in the medical office can help you to: a. | better
understand medical abbreviations | b. | pronounce patients’ names
correctly | c. | learn the meaning of medical terms | d. | take notes
quickly and accurately | | |
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| 66. | Which
of the following types of phones can be used to signal or access other office extensions while
placing calls on hold? a. | voice mail | c. | call director | b. | cellular
phone | d. | six-button
touch-tone telephone | | | | |
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| 67. | Smallpox, among other diseases, used to be “pandemic.” This means that
it: a. | was caught by
most of the people who lived in a given geographic area | b. | was nearly
always fatal for anyone who caught it | c. | was common on farms where people worked closely with
animals | d. | was caused by unsanitary conditions and contaminated
water | | |
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| 68. | Which
of the following is the correct way to write the first line of an inside address in a letter to John
Kidwell, a pediatrician? a. | John Kidwell, Pediatrician | c. | Doctor John Kidwell | b. | Dr. John
Kidwell, MD | d. | John Kidwell,
MD | | | | |
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| 69. | Which of the
following organizations provided the world’s best medical training at the end of the
1800s? a. | Royal Society of
London | c. | Carnegie
Foundation | b. | General Medical Council of
Britain | d. | Johns Hopkins
University | | | | |
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| 70. | The
amount of the bank drafts from the checking account is _____ the balance in the
checkbook. a. | added
to | b. | subtracted
from | | | | |
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| 71. | Which
statement is true regarding the procedures that the medical assistant should perform when handling
incoming mail? a. | Open and sort
all mail addressed to the office or the physician. | b. | Check carefully
for any enclosures mentioned in letters. | c. | Initial each item. | d. | Organize all
correspondence by postmark. | | |
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| 72. | Which
of the following skills would not be an appropriate expectation of the competent medical
assistant? a. | performing
insurance coding and billing | b. | giving instructions to patients about self-care after
treatments | c. | using the computer to perform a variety of office
functions | d. | diagnosing common patient complaints | | |
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| 73. | Which
of the following is the most economical type of secured file storage that offers the advantages of
saving floor space and being accessible to more than one person at a time? a. | automated | c. | rotary
circular | b. | lateral | d. | shelf | | | | |
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| 74. | Which
codes have modifiers?
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| 75. | Which
statement best describes how the medical assistant can contribute to maintaining positive patient
relations in today’s medical care environment? a. | Demonstrate
knowledge and competency by using appropriate medical language. | b. | Ensure that
patients are treated in a businesslike and efficient manner. | c. | Provide a
personalized link between the patient, physician, and other healthcare
providers. | d. | Ensure that patients understand the payment arrangements
required by the office. | | |
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| 76. | Which
of the following would be the least helpful for encouraging patients to make prompt
payments? a. | clearly itemized
statements | b. | self-addressed envelopes included with
statements | c. | messages stating when balance is due | d. | firmly stated
policies regarding collection procedures | | |
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| 77. | Which
statement is true regarding the handling of charts for patients who have appointments on a given
day? a. | Pull all files
before the first patient arrives and arrange in the order that patients are
scheduled. | b. | Pull all files the night before and organize them
alphabetically. | c. | Pull the file for each patient as he or she arrives and give to
the physician. | d. | Check files for accuracy and completeness while the patient is
with the physician. | | |
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| 78. | Legal
and appropriate procedures that you can use when attempting to locate patients with outstanding
balances who move and leave no forwarding addresses include all of the following
EXCEPT: a. | calling
references that are listed on patient registration cards | b. | contacting
professional organizations to which patients might belong | c. | informing the
patients’ employers that they owe you money | d. | asking neighbors
for information about patients’ new locations | | |
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| 79. | Which
of the following is not a part of the hardware of a computer system? a. | disk
drive | c. | hard
copy | b. | monitor | d. | printer | | | | |
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| 80. | What
information is gathered to determine an individual physician’s fee profile? a. | economic status
of his patients | b. | average fees of other physicians in the
area | c. | type of
specialty practiced | d. | his actual charges over a given time
period | | |
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| 81. | What
is the most efficient way to prevent the loss of dictated materials when using a transcribing
unit? a. | run the machine
at a slow speed | b. | use the feature that rewinds the tape slightly after each
pause | c. | stop the machine every few words | d. | adjust the tone
for maximum understanding | | |
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| 82. | What
is the purpose of noting “c: Alice Adams, MD” at the bottom of a letter? a. | request that the
receiver make a copy of the letter for Dr. Adams | b. | instruct the
medical assistant to send the same letter to Dr. Adams | c. | advise the
receiver that a duplicate letter has been sent to Dr. Adams | d. | tell the
receiver that Dr. Adams has more information about the subject of the
letter | | |
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| 83. | The
amount of a returned check that was deposited into the checking account is _____ the balance in the
checkbook. a. | added
to | b. | subtracted
from | | | | |
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| 84. | Which
printer would be the best selection if you plan to prepare multicolored newsletters with
computer-generated graphics and illustrations? a. | dot matrix | c. | color laser | b. | ink
jet | d. | letter
quality | | | | |
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| 85. | When
working under a managed care plan, physicians agree to: a. | base fees on
national trends | b. | charge fees that are based on local community
averages | c. | accept fees that are predetermined by the
plan | d. | set fees within
certain ranges provided by the plan | | |
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| 86. | Clockspeed is expressed as: a. | baud | c. | megabytes | b. | bytes | d. | megahertz | | | | |
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| 87. | The
medical assistant should follow all of these practices regarding patient arrivals
EXCEPT: a. | personally
escorting them from reception to the appropriate room | b. | telling them the
specific items of clothing to remove | c. | explaining exactly how to put the gown
on | d. | having them wait
in the examination room instead of the waiting room | | |
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| 88. | Which
is NOT a type of manager: a. | democratic | c. | autocratic | b. | aristocratic | d. | laissez-faire | | | | |
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| 89. | A
V-code describes: a. | an
illness | c. | a
poisoning | b. | an emergency | d. | a condition other than an illness | | | | |
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| 90. | What
was Abraham Flexner’s contribution to medical education in North America? a. | the founding of
a statutory body that set standards for physicians | b. | the
establishment of admission standards for medical students | c. | the
transformation of the curriculum and methods for teaching medicine | d. | the preparation
and publication of a review that rated the quality of medical schools | | |
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| 91. | Who
sets the cost of medical services in “fee-for-service arrangements”? a. | local medical
societies | c. | insurance
companies | b. | federal government | d. | physicians | | | | |
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| 92. | Which
of the following could be a code for the diagnosis of hypertension? a. | E905.2 | c. | 401.9 | b. | V50.3 | d. | 99213 | | | | |
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| 93. | A
____ by definition is talk or widely disseminated opinion with no discernible source, or a statement
that is not known to be true. a. | rumor | c. | discrimination | b. | libel | d. | slander | | | | |
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| 94. | Why
is it unsatisfactory to answer the office phone by only saying “Hello?” a. | The caller may
think they have the wrong number. | b. | It saves time. | c. | It makes the
caller feel rushed. | d. | It is OK if you’re in a hurry. | | |
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| 95. | Which
of the following is least likely to be the result if your office makes little effort to collect on
delinquent accounts? a. | grateful patients who return for
treatment | b. | malpractice lawsuits | c. | problems meeting
office operating expenses | d. | increase in number of patients who do not
pay | | |
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| 96. | The
mental and emotional condition, enthusiasm, loyalty, or confidence of an individual or group with
regard to the function or tasks at hand is called: a. | morale | c. | insubordination | b. | tenacity | d. | initiative | | | | |
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| 97. | Which
statement best describes the practice of physicians waiving copayments required by insurance
companies? a. | It may be
illegal if done on a regular basis. | b. | It is a humane way to provide medical care for needy
patients. | c. | It is promoted by insurance companies to encourage preventive
care. | d. | It encourages patients to take advantage of the medical payment
system. | | |
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| 98. | The
most common use for diskettes today is for: a. | storing information | b. | giving
instructions to your computer while you are using it | c. | substituting for
the Zip drive | d. | formatting your computer | | |
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| 99. | All
of the following are advantages to using laser printers EXCEPT: a. | cost | c. | quality of
printing | b. | speed | d. | efficiency | | | | |
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| 100. | If
you are not using a pegboard check-writing system, what is the first thing you must do when writing a
check? a. | enter the
payee’s name on the check | b. | date the check correctly | c. | fill in the
check stub | d. | write the exact amount to be paid on the
check | | |
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