Scheduling Flashcards
The medical assistant has scheduled 3 patients in the office at the same time. What type of appointment scheduling have they used?
A. Double- Booking
B. Wave
C. Open Office Hours
D. Grouping procedures
B. Wave
Rationale
Wave scheduling is done by scheduling a few patients at the top and bottom of each hour. The first patient to arrive is typically seen first, unless there is a patient with a greater health concern. This allows all of the practitioners to see patients, and provides adequate time for walk-in patients to be seen. The clustering form of scheduling does not allow much time for walk-in appointments as multiple patients with similar problems are scheduled at the same time of day. Double booking is also typically used when only one practitioner is available; multiple patients are scheduled for the same time. When using the grouping type of scheduling, the same procedure is scheduled for the same time of the week. Open office scheduling allows patients to come to the office when they wish to go.
Which of the following types of scheduling provides built- in flexibility to accommodate unforeseen situations, such as patients who require more time with the physician ?
A. Wave
B. Specified time
C. Procedures grouping
D. Double booking
A. Wave
Rationale
Wave scheduling refers to a specific number of patient’s usually scheduled at the beginning of the same hour; reduces physician downtime; intended purpose is to start and finish each hour on time. Time specific scheduling (also Stream) is where a patient is scheduled for an appointment based on the length of time needed and at an available time; example of most common scheduling. Procedures grouping scheduling involves similar procedures scheduled on predetermined days i.e. group procedures, similar procedures scheduled on predetermined days or in predetermined time blocks; exp. sports exams. Double booking involves booking more than one patient to the same appointment time; two or more patient scheduled at the same time. This is used by practices with short visits or a high no show rate; increases patient waiting time but reduces physician downtime.
From which of the following lists does a medical office assistant need to run an encounter report?
A. Accounts receivable
B. Appointment schedule
C. Negative balance report
D. Transaction report
Appointment schedule
Rationale
A medical office assistant can run an encounter report from the appointment schedule. This is a report that supplies management information about services provided each time a patient visits the doctor.
Which of the following is required to schedule patients for outpatient diagnostic tests and procedures?
A. A UB-04 form
B. An approval from the insurance company
C. A CMS-1500 form
D. A pre-payment from the patient
B. An approval from the insurance company
Rationale
Insurance requires approval before an outpatient test or procedure can be done. Filling out the applicable forms and/or making a pre-payment (if necessary) are secondary to the approval required before even scheduling the appointment.
Which of the following scheduling methods works best for specialty and consulting practices because it allows the physician time to prepare for each office visit with the knowledge that the day will begin and end on a schedule if patients adhere to their assigned times?
A. Stream scheduling
B. Double booking
C. Triage scheduling
D. Open hour scheduling
A. Stream scheduling
Rationale
The best type of scheduling for this scenario would be stream scheduling since each patient is assigned an individual time to be seen. Double booking involves booking more than one patient to the same appointment time. Scheduling patients due to the seriousness of their situation is an example of triage scheduling. Open hours scheduling allows patients to be seen in the order in which they arrive at the clinic.
A physician who treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system is which of the following types of specialist?
A. Podiatrist
B. Orthopedist
C. Dermatologist
D. Ophthalmologist
B. ORTHOPEDIST
Rationale
The prefix orth/o means “to straighten” and the suffix -ist means “one who.” An orthopedist is one who treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system. A podiatrist is one who treats issues in the feet, a dermatologist works with the skin, and an ophthalmologist is one who treats the eyes.
