Chapter 07
Safety and Patient Reception
Multiple Choice Questions
1. | The first impression a patient gets of a medical office is of the ____.
A. | location of the practice |
C. | length of time it takes to drive there |
E. | cleanliness of the exam rooms |
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2. | The best type of lighting to use in a geriatric medical office is ____ lighting.
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3. | When a fairly bright light is used in medical offices, it ____.
A. | allows patients to see their surroundings |
B. | can be hazardous because patients may trip or bump into hard-to-see items |
C. | is too bright to facilitate reading |
D. | can be harsh on patient's eyes |
E. | helps avoid glare when patients fill out forms |
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4. | The best way to determine the appropriate level of lighting for the patient reception area is to ____.
A. | monitor the number of patient accidents each month |
B. | ask the patients what type of lighting they prefer |
C. | consult an electrician or lighting showroom salesperson |
D. | survey the office personnel |
E. | consult fashion magazines for the latest trends in lighting |
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5. | Which type of lighting could be hazardous and result in patients tripping or bumping into hard-to-see objects?
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6. | A disadvantage of extremely bright light is that it ____.
A. | conveys a sense of a lack of caring |
B. | makes reading impossible |
D. | causes patients to trip over hard-to-see items |
E. | makes patients feel sleepy or sluggish |
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7. | The best way to maintain appropriate room temperature in the reception area is to ____.
A. | observe the patients for signs of being too cold or hot |
B. | allow patients to regulate the thermostat in the reception area |
C. | set the thermostat at a predetermined setting and never change it |
D. | periodically survey patients to see if they are comfortable |
E. | set the thermostat as directed by the building superintendent |
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8. | Which patients are especially sensitive to cooler temperatures?
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9. | In which type of practice might you want to increase the temperature setting?
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10. | The purpose of piping music into a reception area is to ____.
A. | keep the patients awake |
B. | provide a soothing background sound |
C. | create a conversation item for patients |
D. | eliminate the distraction to office staff of patients talking |
E. | keep patients up-to-date with the latest music |
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11. | What type of music would you commonly find in an obstetrics/gynecology practice? rev: 11_14_2014_QC_59263
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12. | Children's folk music should be piped into a(n) ____ practice.
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13. | Appropriate music choices for general-practice medical offices are ____.
B. | classical, light jazz, and soft rock |
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14. | Cool colors include white, blue, and ____.
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15. | What kind of impression do cool colors create in the reception area?
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16. | What should you consider when choosing the color family for a medical office?
A. | The availability of the colors |
B. | The mood you want to create |
D. | The ease with which it can be applied |
E. | Your personal preferences |
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17. | Warm colors include hot pink, red, and ____.
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18. | Colors fall within which two areas?
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19. | A lively atmosphere is produced by ____ colors.
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20. | Which type of fabric creates a formal appearance?
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21. | An advantage of carpeting in a medical office is that it ____.
A. | permits easy movement of furniture |
C. | keeps the office cleaner |
D. | is less expensive than other flooring types |
E. | forms a better base for scatter rugs |
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22. | The purpose of specialty items in a reception area is to ____.
A. | decrease the noise in the office |
B. | decrease the chance of tripping |
C. | add a finishing touch that is pleasing or helpful to patients |
D. | provide a pleasant odor in the area |
E. | eliminate allergens in the environment |
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23. | An example of an appropriate specialty item in a medical office is a ____.
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24. | When selecting specialty items in a medical office, consider ____.
A. | low tables with sharp corners |
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25. | Coffee tables or low tables with sharp edges are ____.
A. | a necessary addition to any reception area |
B. | useful for holding magazines |
C. | a hazard to the elderly and small children |
D. | available to patients for holding food and drinks |
E. | convenient for holding table lamps |
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26. | The major disadvantage of having live plants in a reception area is that they ____.
A. | require someone in the office to know how to grow plants |
B. | must be watered periodically |
C. | may cause allergies or be poisonous if eaten by small children |
D. | take up space and can spill |
E. | release harmful toxins into the environment |
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27. | Items smaller than a golf ball in a medical office reception area are ____.
A. | fun for infants and young children |
B. | too tempting to be stolen |
D. | a choking hazard for young children |
E. | only appropriate in pediatric offices |
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28. | A good rule of thumb for the placement of furniture is to allow ____ square feet of space per person.
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29. | A 120 square foot room (10 feet by 12 feet) can comfortably accommodate ____ people.
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30. | How should the chairs in the reception area be placed to produce the greatest amount of floor area?
A. | In the middle of the room |
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31. | A disease or condition that can be easily transmitted from one individual to another is called ____.
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32. | The single most important factor that affects a patient's perception of a physician's office is ____.
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33. | Which of the following is a specific housekeeping task the medical assistant may perform?
C. | Clean windows and blinds |
E. | Clean air vents and ducts |
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34. | The appropriate way to handle patients who smoke is to ____.
A. | provide a corner of the reception area just for smokers |
B. | make sure the medical office is equipped with a good ventilating system |
C. | provide an adequate supply of ashtrays throughout the reception area |
D. | ask patients to wait until they are in the exam room to smoke |
E. | post "Thank You for Not Smoking" signs in the reception area |
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35. | A primary advantage of placing illuminated red EXIT signs above doorways is that they ____.
A. | provide a delivery entrance for supplies |
B. | have a backup power system and remain lit in a power outage |
C. | set of an alarm when the door is opened |
D. | provide a security entrance and exit only |
E. | add a splash of color to the office décor |
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36. | Which of these guidelines should you follow when selecting magazines for a medical office?
A. | Place the physician's medical journals in the reception area |
B. | Subscribe to several magazines on one topic |
C. | Select magazines specific to one age group |
D. | Ask patients for feedback on their interests |
E. | Keep back issues for at least 12 months |
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37. | A pediatric playroom should include ____.
A. | a "well" side and a "sick" side for well and sick children |
B. | a television or DVD player on a low shelf that is easily accessible to children |
C. | a wide selection of balls and jumping ropes |
D. | mixing the toys for younger and older children |
E. | dim light to help calm the children |
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38. | Which of the following should be included when creating a reception area that is accessible to patients with special needs?
A. | Use only scatter rugs or unfastened carpet on the floor |
B. | Make sure the sills long the floor in the doorways are metal or wood |
C. | Attach bars or rails 12 to 24 inches on the walls above the floor |
D. | Provide handrails in halls and bathrooms |
E. | Provide stairs instead of ramps for quicker office access |
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39. | When arranging a reception area, which type of chairs would best accommodate elderly patients?
C. | Chairs on castors that roll easily |
D. | A few straight-backed chairs |
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40. | The Older Americans Act protects the elderly population against abuse, neglect, and ____.
D. | accommodating items emphasizing their age |
E. | severe medical conditions |
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41. | One reason elderly patients may face discrimination is that ____.
A. | older people generally lack communication skills |
B. | with retirement comes uncertainty |
C. | older people always suffer from financial instability |
D. | older people have memory loss that makes them easy to exploit |
E. | with age come medical conditions that create physical limitations |
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42. | The best way to determine the number of parking spaces a medical office needs is to ____.
A. | ask patients if they found a place to park |
B. | calculate the average time a patient spends in the office and the number of appointments scheduled during that time |
C. | measure the dimensions of the parking lot and divide by the number of patients seen per day to determine how many spaces are available |
D. | send out a survey form to all patients, families, and office staff for suggestions for parking improvement |
E. | ask other medical offices in the same area how many parking spaces they need |
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43. | Which of the following would you include when establishing a medical office in a culturally diverse area?
A. | Post signs in the reception area indicating that all patients must speak English |
B. | Designate the office as an Americans-only clinic |
C. | Provide reading material in the second most prominent language |
D. | Hire only employees who can speak more than one language |
E. | Avoid reflecting various cultures in the reception area décor |
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44. | Which of the following patients is at greatest risk if another patient who is highly contagious comes into the office?
B. | Young adult with asthma |
C. | Immunocompromised patient |
D. | Patient with high blood pressure |
E. | Woman who is 5 months pregnant |
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45. | Immunocompromised patients
A. | are especially sensitive to medications. |
B. | do not have the normal ability to fight off disease. |
C. | are limited in their ability to function physiologically. |
D. | tend to shy away from social interactions. |
E. | are more likely to trip and fall than other patients. |
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46. | An example of an immunocompromised patient is ____.
A. | a patient with arthritis |
B. | a patient with diabetes |
C. | a patient receiving chemotherapy |
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47. | The most appropriate way for a highly contagious patient to be seen in a medical office is to ____.
A. | schedule all highly contagious patients to be in the reception area at the same time |
B. | have a well-ventilated reception room |
C. | put the highly contagious patients in one corner of the reception area |
D. | bring the highly contagious patient directly into the examination room to wait |
E. | remove all other patients from the reception area |
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48. | Which of the following is an example of reading materials that should not be placed in the reception area?
A. | General sports magazines |
B. | Medical brochures or pamphlets |
C. | Technical medical journals |
D. | Office information packets |
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49. | Which of the following guarantees health care for a specific group of citizens regardless of their ability to pay?
A. | Americans with Disabilities Act |
B. | American Medical Association |
C. | Occupational Safety and Health Act |
E. | Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments |
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50. | According to the OSHA computer workstations checklist, when working at a computer, in what position should you hold your head?
A. | Upright or in-line with the torso |
B. | Facing slightly to the left |
C. | Bent down at a 12-degree angle |
E. | Facing slightly to the right |
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51. | According to the OSHA computer workstations checklist, when working at a computer, wrists and hands should be ____.
A. | bent up slightly at the wrists |
B. | bent down slightly at the wrists |
C. | held sideways toward the thumbs |
D. | held sideways toward the little finger |
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52. | When working at a computer, position your chair so that your lower legs are ____.
A. | crossed and straight in front of you |
C. | perpendicular to the floor |
D. | crossed underneath your chair |
E. | slightly elevated above your knees |
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53. | In a well-designed computer workstation, the monitor should be positioned ____.
A. | a little to your right so that you can see the document holder clearly. |
B. | at a distance that allows you to read the screen without leaning forward or backward. |
C. | approximately 5 inches above your line of sight. |
D. | approximately 10 inches to the left and slightly below your line of site. |
E. | exactly 12 inches from your eyes. |
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54. | Which of the following is not a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. | Hands that go to sleep frequently |
B. | Pain from the wrist that travels up the arm |
C. | Weakness or numbness in the hands or fingers |
E. | Burning in the hands or fingers |
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55. | Sheila, a new coworker, tells you that she sometimes has trouble grasping things because of weakness in her fingers and hands. She suspects that she may have carpal tunnel syndrome, but she is not sure what to do about it. Which of the following tips could you give to Sheila?
A. | "Don't tell the physician; if they find out you have CTS, you may lose your position." |
B. | "Exercise your hands by striking the keys on the keyboard with force." |
C. | "Wear a splint on the hand and forearm." |
D. | "Try to get all of your computer work done at once, so that you can then rest your wrists." |
E. | "Position the keyboard slightly lower than your elbows." |
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56. | Which of the following is typically not included in a new patient registration packet?
A. | Demographic/insurance coverage form |
B. | Notice of privacy practices |
D. | Living will/durable power of attorney form |
E. | Information regarding payment policies |
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57. | Bailey is manning the reception desk this afternoon. A patient arrives and is bleeding heavily from a wound on his arm. He looks as though he is about to pass out. What should Bailey do?
A. | Ask the patient to have a seat in the reception area |
B. | Offer to fill out the forms for the patient |
C. | Notify a member of the clinical staff immediately |
D. | Offer the patient some tissues to mop up the blood |
E. | Direct the patient to the patient restroom to clean up his arm |
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58. | How long before the office opens should the person opening the office arrive?
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59. | What is the first priority in opening the office and beginning the day, after you have unlocked the door and turned off the security system?
A. | Turn on the fax machine |
B. | Turn on the coffee maker |
D. | Check the refrigerator temperature |
E. | Retrieve voicemail or answering service messages |
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60. | Which of the following is not an activity involved with closing the office at the end of the day?
B. | Put laboratory specimens in pick-up receptacle |
C. | Forward calls to voicemail or the answering machine |
D. | Secure all medical records |
E. | Arm the security system |
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61. | Shalysse is scheduled to open the medical office this morning. The clinic opens at 8 AM, so she arrives at 7:25 to open the office. As she is walking from her car to the building, she hears footsteps behind her and turns around, but no one is there. She continues to walk toward the building, but hears the noise again. Again, no one is there when she turns around. What should Shalysse do?
A. | Turn around and yell for whoever is stalking her to stop it |
B. | Notify the facility's security |
C. | Continue walking toward the building as if she had not heard anything |
D. | Run to the building as quickly as possible |
E. | Hide in the nearest bushes or doorway |
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62. | Bill is looking over the documents the patient handed him and notices that the Social Security number on the documents is not the same as the number the office has on file for this patient. When Bill asks about it, the patient states that the office has always had his Social Security number wrong, and he has given up trying to get it fixed. He claims that the Social Security number on the documents is his correct number. What should Bill do?
A. | Change the Social Security number in the patient's chart to match the documents |
B. | Give the patient the necessary paperwork to change his Social Security number in his chart |
C. | Try to find out if suspicious behavior by this patient has been reported before |
D. | Accept the patient's explanation and ask him to have a seat in the waiting area |
E. | Call 911 and report a possible red flag incident |
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Fill in the Blank Questions
63. | Some of the responsibilities of a medical ________ include greeting people, registering them, giving them directions, and answering the phone.
________________________________________ |
64. | Children with ________ diseases should wait in an area away from well children to prevent transmission of illnesses.
________________________________________ |
65. | In addition to body fluids and human tissue, ________ waste includes any potentially hazardous waste generated in the treatment of patients, such as needles.
________________________________________ |
66. | Free parking improves office ________, provided an adequate number of parking spaces are available.
________________________________________ |
67. | ________ is the federal agency that has developed guidelines for workplace safety in healthcare practices.
________________________________________ |
68. | Guidelines for protection from hazardous wiring and poorly lit hallways ensure the _________ of staff and patients.
________________________________________ |
69. | Mr. Philips, a new patient, arrives for his appointment and has his service dog with him. Because he needs your assistance in completing the required forms due to blindness, he is said to have ________ needs.
________________________________________ |
70. | A teletype (TTY) device, also known as a(n) _________ device for the deaf (TDD), is a specially designed telephone that helps hearing-impaired patients communicate with a medical office through a relay service.
________________________________________ |
71. | To prevent ________ against people with physical or mental handicaps, the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990.
________________________________________ |
72. | The ________ Act of 1965 guarantees protection against abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly.
________________________________________ |
73. | Patients in a medical practice are usually a diverse group of people. To make patients feel comfortable, the reception area should reflect aspects of their ________ backgrounds whenever possible.
________________________________________ |