Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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| 1. | 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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| 2. | If
your office is on the West Coast, what time is the latest time to call the East
Coast? a. | 11:00
AM | c. | 2:00
PM | b. | 1:00
PM | d. | 4:00
PM | | | | |
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| 3. | An
ICD-9 code identifies the: a. | procedure | c. | condition | b. | supplies | d. | attending
physician | | | | |
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| 4. | Which
of the following documents lists the order in which business is to be conducted during a
meeting? a. | agenda | d. | minutes | b. | bylaws | e. | resolution | c. | itinerary | | | | |
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| 5. | Annotating incoming letters for physicians can help them by: a. | preventing them
from wasting time with “junk” mail sorting | b. | drawing their
attention to the most important parts of the letters | c. | researching the
information needed to answer the letter | d. | offering suggested responses | | |
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| 6. | 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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| 7. | When
preparing the first statements you send patients to bill for medical services, you should itemize the
charges: a. | if they were not
explained to the patient before he received the services | b. | on all first
statements sent out | c. | for bills that will also be submitted to an insurance
carrier | d. | if many of your patients call with billing
questions | | |
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| 8. | 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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| 9. | The
allied health specialist who performs ultrasound diagnostic procedures under the supervision of a
physician is called a: a. | cytotechnologist | c. | electrodiagnostic technologist | b. | diagnostic
medical sonographer | d. | perfusionist | | | | |
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| 10. | 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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| 11. | 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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| 12. | Which
of the following items of information is it illegal to request when a patient is applying for credit
with the medical office? a. | date of birth | c. | nearest relative | b. | country of
birth | d. | name of
spouse | | | | |
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| 13. | Which
the BEST reason for becoming an active member of a medical assisting professional
organization? a. | improved chances
for promotion at work | b. | professional growth through continuing
education | c. | networking opportunities | d. | opportunity to
demonstrate your dedication | | |
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| 14. | Identify the statement about medical office credit policies that is not a recommended
practice. a. | Include billing,
insurance, and collection procedures. | b. | Write fairly detailed guidelines to follow when making credit
decisions. | c. | Develop very general policies so that each account can be
considered individually. | d. | Fully disclose these policies to
patients. | | |
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| 15. | The
formal product of a legislative body; a decision or determination of a sovereign, a legislative
council, or a court of justice is called: a. | ordinance | c. | law | b. | act | d. | code | | | | |
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| 16. | A
computer’s communication tool that is used to send and receive text messages and documents is
called: a. | cellular
phone | c. | pager | b. | voice mail | d. | electronic mail | | | | |
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| 17. | Which
of the following is an unlawful pre-employment inquiry? a. | Are you over 18
years of age? | b. | Do you have a mental impairment that could interfere with this
job? | c. | Have you been
convicted of a crime? | d. | How many children do you have? | | |
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| 18. | A
dialog box in Windows is: a. | a box used to turn options on and off | b. | a window that
appears requesting more information from the user | c. | a standard value
used by the software | d. | a location on screen in which files are
stored | | |
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| 19. | Who
approves the abbreviations that are used when preparing reports for a hospital? a. | medical
publishers | b. | American Association for Medical
Transcription | c. | hospital | d. | The Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations | | |
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| 20. | 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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| 21. | Which
is generally the most important factor that influences the first impression that we make on
others? a. | what we
say | c. | how we
look | b. | what we
do | d. | what we
know | | | | |
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| 22. | What
is the most serious action that can be taken against a physician who is found to be practicing under
the influence of narcotic drugs? a. | expulsion from the local medical
society | b. | suspension of his medical license | c. | accusation of
unethical conduct | d. | revoking of his medical license | | |
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| 23. | Which
example of the use of the apostrophe is not correct? a. | It’s
essential that we get the copier cleaned and serviced. | b. | I think that
it’s broken. | c. | No, it’s cartridge just needs to be
replaced. | d. | It’s been a long time since we replaced the
cartridge. | | |
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| 24. | What
type of registered nurse has advanced training to diagnose and treat common
illnesses? a. | anesthetist | c. | dietician | b. | practitioner | d. | practical | | | | |
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| 25. | When
arranging travel to a professional conference, the medical assistant prepares which of the
following? a. | a calendar of
meetings dates | d. | the goals and
objectives | b. | an agenda | e. | the minutes | c. | an
itinerary | | | | |
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| 26. | 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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| 27. | As
key public relations representatives for the physicians for whom they work, it is critical that
medical assistants: a. | perform all duties as quickly and efficiently as
possible | b. | impress patients with their
competence | c. | demonstrate sincere concern for each
patient | d. | tell patients who are ill that they have an excellent chance
for recovery | | |
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| 28. | To
intentionally put off the doing of something that should be done is to: a. | initiate | c. | dominate | b. | be insubordinate | d. | procrastinate | | | | |
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| 29. | Which of the
following is an output device? a. | printer | c. | monitor | b. | scanner | d. | keyboard | | | | |
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| 30. | Which
of the following is not required when taking a telephone message? a. | the
caller’s name and phone number | b. | time and date | c. | the name of the
person to whom the call is directed | d. | the caller’s account number | | |
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| 31. | The
principal message that you will give an American patient if you avoid eye contact while communicating
is that you: a. | are
angry | c. | do not
understand what she is saying | b. | are in a hurry | d. | are not telling the truth | | | | |
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| 32. | Medical assistants who are interested in learning more about disorders of the skin
should apply for employment with a: a. | dermatologist | c. | physiatrist | b. | allergist | d. | cosmetic
surgeon | | | | |
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| 33. | Which
area of the office has the highest potential for accidents and should be checked throughout the
day? a. | examination
rooms | c. | floors | b. | storage cabinets | d. | waiting room | | | | |
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| 34. | 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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| 35. | 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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| 36. | What
is the most important action to take when changing a patient’s appointment
time? a. | finding out and
noting why the time must be changed | b. | reminding them of any past due
balances | c. | emphasizing the importance of keeping the new
appointment | d. | erasing the patient’s name from the original
slot | | |
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| 37. | Which
of the following types of communication tools can be used for two-way communication? a. | voice
mail | c. | beeper | b. | fax | d. | cell phone | | | | |
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| 38. | Which
of the following statements is true regarding the revisions made to the AMA Code of Ethics in
1980? a. | The number of
sections was increased to include the growing number of ethical concerns. | b. | The preamble was
eliminated to allow more space for expansion of the sections. | c. | The standards
were modified to reflect a legal rather than a moral approach to medicine. | d. | Changes to the
language were made to achieve a balance between modern laws and our society’s professional
standards. | | |
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| 39. | The
best way to earn a favorable evaluation on your externship would be to: a. | demonstrate
integrity and practice high ethical standards | b. | be very friendly
with your supervisor and other senior staff members | c. | impress the
physician with your knowledge and skills | d. | demonstrate your willingness by performing tasks that have not
been assigned to you | | |
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| 40. | 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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| 41. | A
patient has been diagnosed as having colitis and wants more information on the subject. Which of the
following is the most appropriate initial step for the medical assistant to take? a. | give the patient
an educational pamphlet | b. | lend the patient a medical assisting
text | c. | lend the patient
one of the physician’s books | d. | refer the patient to the public
library | e. | refer the patient to the local health
department | | |
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| 42. | Which
of the following reports is generally written in narrative form and includes a lot of details about
an examination for another doctor? a. | history and physical | c. | discharge | b. | pathology | d. | consultation | | | | |
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| 43. | Which
type of special postal service would you use for a heavy, expensive piece of medical equipment being
returned to the manufacturer for a refund? a. | registered | c. | certified | b. | first
class | d. | special
delivery | | | | |
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| 44. | Which
of the following is not true about the use of independent billing services? a. | reduces calls to
the office regarding billing matters | b. | allows office staff more time to work with
patients | c. | depersonalizes billing disputes | d. | increases the
cost of billing and monitoring accounts | | |
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| 45. | If a
bank cashes a check that is later returned for insufficient funds, whom does it charge to recover the
amount lost? a. | the check’s
maker | b. | the person who received the money | c. | the person to
whom the check was written | d. | the person who last endorsed the
check | | |
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| 46. | Which
of the following is a CPT code: a. | E905.2 | c. | 401.9 | b. | V50.3 | d. | 99213 | | | | |
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| 47. | 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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| 48. | 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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| 49. | 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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| 50. | 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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| 51. | 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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| 52. | A
minor crime, as opposed to a felony, punishable by fine or imprisonment in a city or county jail
rather than in a penitentiary is called a: a. | felony | c. | larceny | b. | misdemeanor | d. | statute | | | | |
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| 53. | Which
factor determines whether patients must sign a truth in lending disclosure as required by Regulation
Z? a. | their bill is
divided into more than four payments | b. | the physician includes a finance
charge | c. | the person has a poor credit history | d. | payments will be
made over a period longer than six months | | |
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| 54. | Which
of the following is not an example of a negotiable instrument? a. | cashier’s
check | c. | credit
card | b. | money
order | d. | personal
check | | | | |
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| 55. | Which
statement is FALSE regarding the interpretation of gestures and body language that you may encounter
among the patients in a medical setting? a. | They are less significant than verbal
communication. | b. | They vary widely in meaning. | c. | Your knowledge
of them will influence patient relations. | d. | They may require special
accommodations. | | |
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| 56. | When
labeling folders and their contents: a. | include as much information on the label as
possible | b. | use divider guides to label folders as a group rather than
individually | c. | write neatly on the tab that extends out the top or side of the
folder | d. | type using colored ink | | |
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| 57. | An
application program is software that is designed to: a. | perform a
variety of tasks such as word processing, database functions, and patient
billing | b. | provide the computer with a set of basic instructions for
executing other programs | c. | interpret the program instructions | d. | all of the
above | | |
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| 58. | Which
assumption did Joseph Lister argue against when he made his contribution to medicine as the Father of
Sterile Surgery? a. | Surgical
techniques must be based on an accurate knowledge of human anatomy. | b. | Sterilization is
best achieved by the use of heat. | c. | Putrefaction is a natural part of the healing
process. | d. | Surgical infection, like pain, is God given and
inevitable. | | |
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| 59. | To
indicate that papers have been conditioned and are ready to be filed, the next recommended step in
the filing process is to: a. | release them for filing | b. | place them in a
container marked “To be filed” | c. | file them immediately | d. | sort them into
the order in which they will be filed | | |
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| 60. | 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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| 61. | How did the
studies of the ancient Greek physicians influence the progress of medicine during the period of
history known as the “Dark Ages”? a. | encouraged the founding of research centers and scientific
experiments | b. | discouraged further study because they were considered to be
the final authority | c. | encouraged the founding of hospitals and humane treatment of
patients | d. | had no real effect because the early Christians ignored their
writings | | |
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| 62. | 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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| 63. | A
V-code describes: a. | an
illness | c. | a
poisoning | b. | an emergency | d. | a condition other than an illness | | | | |
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| 64. | A
series of computers that are linked together allowing them to share information is
a(n): a. | database | c. | network | b. | clearinghouse | d. | Internet | | | | |
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| 65. | Which
of the following is not a function of the enter key on the computer? a. | activates the
numeric keypad | b. | moves the cursor to the next line | c. | tells the
computer to proceed with a command | d. | starts a new paragraph | | |
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| 66. | 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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| 67. | Which
statement best explains the difference between “receipts” and
“receivables”? a. | Receivables are future receipts. | b. | Receipts refer
to payments made in cash, receivables are paid by check or credit card. | c. | Receipts are
paper acknowledgments of receivables. | d. | Receipts are payments made by patients; receivables are
payments made by third parties. | | |
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| 68. | Which
statement best describes the relationship between bookkeeping and accounting? a. | Accounting is a
summary of the activities of bookkeeping. | b. | Bookkeeping takes care of all the reporting activities of
accounting. | c. | Accounting plans the bookkeeping
process. | d. | Bookkeeping involves the recording activities of
accounting. | | |
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| 69. | Which
letter style would be most appropriate to use when writing a business letter to someone you know very
well? a. | modified-block | b. | block | c. | simplified | d. | modified-block with indented
paragraphs | | |
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| 70. | 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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| 71. | The
amount of the interest earned on the checking account is _____ the balance in the
checkbook. a. | added
to | b. | subtracted
from | | | | |
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| 72. | 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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| 73. | Which
of the following practices should be followed by all medical offices when assisting new patients with
their registration forms? a. | physically collecting the completed form, rather than having
them leave it at the reception desk | b. | interviewing them and having a staff member fill out the form
in order to ensure accuracy | c. | leaving it on the counter | d. | only allowing an
experienced medical assistant to work with patients in filling out the
forms | | |
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| 74. | What
is meant by the “litigious nature of today’s society”? a. | crowding has
caused people to need more personal space | b. | patients are more likely to bring lawsuits than in the
past | c. | there is a
growing diversity of cultures represented in the United States | d. | fewer people
have access to needed medical care | | |
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| 75. | Which
accounting system has the least chance of errors because of the small amount of posting
required? a. | double-entry | b. | pegboard | c. | single-entry | d. | there is very little difference among the
three | | |
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| 76. | Which
is NOT a type of leader: a. | charismatic | c. | transformational | b. | transitional | d. | laissez-faire | | | | |
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| 77. | 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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| 78. | What
is the first step to avoid practicing “subtle discrimination” when dealing with
people? a. | avoid judging
people by their appearance or lifestyle | b. | do not react negatively to others | c. | treat all people
with equal respect | d. | honestly examine your own personal
prejudices | | |
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| 79. | How
would you properly index the name “William Parker, MD” for filing if you had another
patient with the same name, but without the title? a. | Dr. Parker,
William | c. | Parker,
William | b. | Parker, Dr. William | d. | Parker, William MD | | | | |
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| 80. | 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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| 81. | Which
is the best way to work with patients regarding financial matters? a. | always apologize
for having to ask them for payment | b. | discuss billing policies only if the patient asks about
them | c. | be very firm
about enforcing office payment policies | d. | explain the office financial policies when they make an
appointment | | |
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| 82. | 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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| 83. | The
agency that inspects for safe workplaces is the:
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| 84. | 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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| 85. | Pitch
is: a. | the choice of
words | c. | the quality of
being clear | b. | the highness or lowness of
sound | d. | a change in
pitch | | | | |
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| 86. | If
your office is in California and it is noon, what time is it on the East Coast? a. | 8:00
AM | c. | 3:00
PM | b. | 9:00
AM | d. | 4:00
PM | | | | |
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| 87. | Which
size letterhead is appropriate for most business correspondence? a. | 5 1/2
´ 8 1/2
inches | c. | 8 1/2
´ 11
inches | b. | 7 1/4 ´ 10 1/2 inches | d. | 17 ´ 22 inches | | | | |
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| 88. | 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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| 89. | 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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| 90. | Which
of the following is used to make sure that all office computer programs and data are secure in case
of a mishap, fire, or natural disaster? a. | RAM | c. | write-protection | b. | microprocessor | d. | backup
policy | | | | |
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| 91. | 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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| 92. | For
which task might a database management software program be used in the medical
office? a. | preparing
letters and reports | b. | tracking accounts payable | c. | preparing
invoices for insurance billing | d. | organizing and storing patient
information | | |
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| 93. | 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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| 94. | What
special type of hardware would you need in order to file your insurance claims
electronically? a. | network
system | c. | scanner | b. | modem | d. | magnetic tape drive | | | | |
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| 95. | 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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| 96. | Which
of the following statements about the professional corporation form of business organization is NOT
true? a. | The professional
employees are liable only for their own acts. | b. | They are less
restricted by legal requirements than smaller sole proprietorships and
partnerships. | c. | There are tax advantages related to fringe benefits for the
corporation and the employees. | d. | It is not necessary to reorganize the corporation after the
death of a major shareholder. | | |
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| 97. | Which
of the following can be used to keep a record of incoming telephone calls so that no message is
overlooked? a. | conference
call | c. | telephone
log | b. | pager | d. | voice
mail | | | | |
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| 98. | 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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| 99. | Most
states require by law that physicians report all of the following events except: a. | confirmed cases
of AIDS | c. | births | b. | abortions | d. | deaths | | | | |
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| 100. | Which
procedure was first performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard? a. | operation to
save babies born with malformed hearts | b. | heart transplant from one human to
another | c. | catheterization for diagnosing heart
disease | d. | injection of penicillin to cure infectious
diseases | | |
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