Question 1

In appointment scheduling, a blocked time is a time that already has a patient appointment.

Accepted Answer

A blocked time in appointment scheduling is a period that is specifically reserved and not available for booking patient appointments, often used for administrative tasks, staff meetings, or breaks.

Question 2

If a patient with managed care insurance must be referred to a specialist physician, what is the responsibility of the primary care physician's office?

Accepted Answer

If a patient with managed care insurance needs to see a specialist physician, the primary care physician's office is responsible for submitting a referral form to the managed care organization and obtaining preauthorization for the referral. This ensures that the specialist visit will be covered by the insurance plan. Option A is incorrect, as the patient cannot just make an appointment with the specialist without a referral. Option B and D are incorrect, as the primary care physician's office is responsible for the preauthorization process.

Question 3

If a patient has been seen in by a dermatologist in a medical group, the patient will be considered an established patient for all physicians affiliated with the medical group even if they have different medical specialties.

Accepted Answer

A patient is considered established only with the specific physician or specialty they have seen before, not with all physicians in a medical group.

Question 4

When appointments are changed or cancelled in a computer appointment scheduling program, the original appointment remains visible, but appears in a different color.

Accepted Answer

In most computer appointment scheduling programs, when appointments are changed or cancelled, the original appointment does not remain visible in a different color; instead, it is either removed or updated to reflect the new information. The visibility of cancelled appointments in a different color is not a standard feature and depends on the specific software's settings and capabilities.

Question 5

Scheduling an appointment for an established patient requires the medical assistant to ask more questions than scheduling an appointment for a new patient.

Accepted Answer

Scheduling an appointment for a new patient typically requires the medical assistant to ask more questions to gather comprehensive information, including personal details, medical history, and insurance information, compared to an established patient whose information is already on file.

Question 6

Which of the following diagnostic tests is usually included in preadmission testing before any surgery?

Accepted Answer

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is usually included in preadmission testing before any surgery to evaluate the patient's heart function and identify any underlying cardiac abnormalities. Ultrasound and MRI may be ordered if the surgery involves the relevant area of the body, but they are not routinely included in preadmission testing. An EEG is not typically necessary unless the surgery involves the brain or nervous system.

Question 7

Why should the office have a system to verify that the results of diagnostic tests were given to patients?

Accepted Answer

Verifying that test results were given to patients helps protect the physician from possible lawsuits for malpractice or abandonment. If patients are not informed of their test results, it could be seen as neglectful behavior on the part of the physician. This verification system ensures that test results are communicated to the patients in a timely and accurate manner.

Question 8

Established patients are usually scheduled for 10-20 minutes for a sick visit.

Accepted Answer

Established patients are usually scheduled for 10-20 minutes for a sick visit to allow for a quick assessment and management of the issue. This assumes that the patient's medical history and current medications are already on file.

Question 9

Which of the following information should the medical assistant have on hand before scheduling a diagnostic test for a patient?

Accepted Answer

The medical assistant should have all the information listed in options A, B, C, and D before scheduling a diagnostic test for a patient. The patient's name and telephone number are necessary for communication purposes, while insurance information is needed to verify coverage and obtain authorization from the insurance company. Knowing the type of procedure being performed is essential to ensure the appropriate equipment, schedule, and preparations are made, and the patient's diagnosis or reason for the test is necessary to determine the urgency and relevance of the test.

Question 10

When using a computer program to schedule appointments, it is usually only necessary to confirm that the computer has brought up the correct telephone number (instead of asking the patient for the telephone number).

Accepted Answer

If the computer program already has the patient's telephone number in its database, there is no need to ask the patient for it again. However, if the telephone number is not in the database or appears to be incorrect, it may be necessary to ask the patient for their telephone number again.

Question 11

What is a way to handle a patient who has a pattern of being late for appointments?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a way to handle a...

Question 12

Who is responsible for giving the patient written instructions before surgery?

Accepted Answer

The surgeon's office is typically responsible for providing the patient with written instructions before surgery, as they are directly involved in the surgical procedure and need to ensure the patient is properly prepared.

Question 13

When the patient is going to be admitted to the hospital from home, what should the medical assistant do?

Accepted Answer

The medical assistant should ensure there is preauthorization for the admission to avoid any insurance issues. Other tasks like arranging transportation or scheduling the physician are not typically the responsibility of the medical assistant.

Question 14

Why must proper procedures be adhered to in scheduling patients for consultations with specialists?

Accepted Answer

Managed care insurance often requires written referral forms, or it will not pay. Proper procedures for scheduling patients with specialists help to ensure that the patient is able to receive the needed services and that insurance will cover the costs.

Question 15

Within what time period must the physician visit a patient he or she has admitted to the hospital?

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, physicians are required to visit and examine a patient they have admitted to the hospital within 24 hours of admission to ensure the development of the care plan and to evaluate the patient’s status.

Question 16

Why is it important to document missed appointments in the patient's medical record?

Accepted Answer

All of the above reasons are important for documenting missed appointments in the patient's medical record. It helps keep track of the patient's attendance, can be used as evidence in the event of malpractice or legal disputes, and provides a record of the patient's compliance with medical advice. Additionally, it allows for proper management of the patient's care and may help identify any issues that may be hindering the patient's ability to attend appointments.

Question 17

What is important when rescheduling a group of patients due to an unexpected change in the physician's schedule?

Accepted Answer

Giving the patients new appointments as soon as possible is important to ensure that their medical needs are addressed promptly and to minimize any inconvenience or disruption to their schedules.

Answer: B and C are not good choices. 
 Rescheduling on an extra day, such as a Saturday, may not be feasible for all patients and may not be necessary if appointments can be accommodated during regular business hours. Writing a note of apology is a good gesture but does not address the practical considerations of rescheduling appointments.

Answer: D is not a good choice.
 Extending the physician's schedule by one hour for the next three days may not be sustainable or feasible for the physician or staff, and does not necessarily address the needs of all patients.

Question 18

When scheduling surgery for a patient, what information should be provided in addition to the type of surgery, name of the surgery, and name of the surgeon and any assistant surgeon?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When scheduling surgery for a patient, what...

Question 19

If a patient telephones the medical office with a serious medical problem, the medical assistant should instruct the patient to come to the office immediately.

Accepted Answer

The medical assistant should advise the patient to seek immediate care at the nearest emergency department or call emergency services, as the office may not be equipped to handle serious medical problems urgently.

Question 20

When a patient does not keep an appointment or call to cancel, what should the medical assistant do?

Accepted Answer

Documenting the missed appointment in the medical record is important for keeping accurate records of the patient's health history and visits. It also helps to track any patterns of noncompliance or missed appointments. Sending a letter instructing the patient to find another physician or doing nothing may not be necessary or productive. Having the physician call the patient may be an option, but it may not always be feasible or practical.

Quiz 40: Scheduling Appointments