CPBS EPIC REGISTRATION QUESTIONS 2026/2027 |
Complete Solutions for Certified Patient Billing Specialist |
Hyperspace Certification Prep | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Finding the Right Chart: Patient Search & MRN Management
Q1: When you're sitting at your Prelude workstation and a patient hands you an ID,
what is the very first thing you should do before typing anything into the search bar?
A. Ask the patient for their Social Security Number to ensure you get the exact right
chart.
B. Ask the patient to verbally verify their full legal name, date of birth, and address to
ensure you are pulling up the correct record. [CORRECT]
C. Swipe their driver's license on the barcode reader so the system auto-populates.
D. Search by their phone number because it is the most unique identifier in Epic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Best practices and CPBS standards dictate that you always verify at least
two patient identifiers (usually name and DOB) with the patient before you search. This
prevents you from pulling up the wrong chart if the ID they handed you is outdated or
belongs to someone else. Searching by SSN first is a privacy risk, and while barcode
scanners exist, verbal verification is the foundational step.
Q2: You are trying to find a patient named "John Smith." You know there are probably
dozens of them in the system. Which search strategy is going to give you the most
accurate results without violating privacy protocols?
A. Type "Smith, John" and just pick the one with the closest date of birth.
B. Type "Smith, John" and add the patient's exact date of birth and last four of their
Social Security Number into the search fields. [CORRECT]
C. Type "J Smith" to see if you can narrow it down by middle initial.
D. Pull up a list of all "John Smiths" and ask the patient to point out their address on the
screen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using multiple specific identifiers (Name, DOB, and last 4 of SSN) filters the
Epic results to the exact individual. Picking a close DOB is dangerous and a common
cause of misidentification. Pulling up a massive list and having the patient look at other
patients' addresses is a major HIPAA violation.
Q3: Let's talk about the Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI). What is its primary job
behind the scenes in Epic?
,A. It stores all of a patient's billing information and copays.
B. It acts as the master database that assigns insurance eligibility codes.
C. It uses algorithms to link medical records across different facilities and visits that
likely belong to the same person. [CORRECT]
D. It automatically generates a new Medical Record Number (MRN) every time a patient
visits a new clinic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EMPI is designed to prevent duplicate records by probabilistically
matching data points (name, DOB, SSN, phone) to see if a new registration actually
belongs to an existing patient. It helps maintain a single, unified record for a person
across the enterprise.
Q4: You search for "Maria Garcia" and see two records. Record A has an MRN of 11122
and was created today. Record B has an MRN of 99887 and was created in 2018. Both
have the exact same date of birth and address. What is the most likely situation here,
and what should you do?
A. Record B is the correct one because it's older; you should delete Record A
immediately.
B. They are probably the same person, and Record A was created in error; you should
investigate further and submit a merge request rather than just picking one.
[CORRECT]
C. They are definitely two different people who happen to share a birthday and address;
you should create a third record to be safe.
D. You should register the patient under Record A since it's the most recent, and ignore
Record B.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is a classic duplicate scenario. The identical DOB and address strongly
suggest these are the same person, but you never just delete or randomly choose a
chart. You must look at other clues (like old phone numbers or insurance) and typically
submit a merge request to your HIM or EMPI team to combine them safely without
losing data.
Q5: What does the term "probabilistic matching" mean in the context of patient
searching in Epic?
A. The system requires you to enter exactly 100% of the patient's data perfectly to find
them.
B. The system uses an algorithm to calculate the mathematical probability that two
records belong to the same person based on how closely data points match.
[CORRECT]
C. The system guesses which insurance the patient probably has based on their name.
D. It means the search results are randomized every time you hit enter.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Probabilistic matching evaluates data—like if "John" and "Jonathan" share
the same DOB and SSN, it calculates a high probability they are the same person, even
if the names aren't typed identically. It prevents duplicates caused by typos or
nicknames.
Q6: A patient insists they have been to your hospital before, but when you search their
name and DOB, absolutely nothing comes up. What is your best next step?
A. Tell them they are wrong and create a brand-new record.
B. Try searching by their old phone number, previous address, or a variation of their
name (like a maiden name) before creating a new record. [CORRECT]
C. Search by their Social Security Number, because that is the only 100% foolproof
backup method.
D. Ask them to go home and bring back an old billing statement.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients often forget what name or address they used, or they got married
and their name changed. Searching alternate demographics or aliases is a standard
troubleshooting step to prevent creating a duplicate. SSN is helpful but often not
required at registration, so it might not be in the system.
Q7: In Epic, when you finally locate the correct patient chart, what is the best practice
regarding the patient's face sheet or demographic window before proceeding with the
visit?
A. Just verify the name at the top of the screen and move on to collect the copay.
B. Ask the patient to look away while you verify their address to protect their privacy.
C. Read back the full name, date of birth, and current address on file to have the patient
verbally confirm them. [CORRECT]
D. Assume it is correct since the search pulled it up and move straight to insurance.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: You must confirm the data actually stored in the chart is accurate. Just
because you found "John Smith" doesn't mean the address or DOB attached to that
MRN is actually his. Reading it back ensures data integrity.
Q8: You search for a patient and see a yellow warning triangle next to their name in the
search results. What does this usually indicate in Epic?
A. The patient has a severe allergy to medications.
B. The patient has outstanding medical bills.
C. The patient record is potentially a duplicate or has data quality issues flagged by the
EMPI. [CORRECT]
D. The patient is deceased.
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Warning indicators (often yellow triangles or red flags depending on system
configuration) in the search results typically denote EMPI warnings—meaning the
system thinks this record might be a duplicate of another one, or there are conflicting
data points that need human review before you use this chart.
Q9: Why is it generally considered a bad idea to use the "Create New Patient" workflow
without performing a thorough search first?
A. It takes too long and slows down the checkout process.
B. It creates duplicate medical records, which fragments the patient's medical history
and causes billing nightmares. [CORRECT]
C. The system will automatically delete the old record if you create a new one, causing
data loss.
D. It requires supervisor approval to click the "New Patient" button.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The biggest enemy of a clean EMPI is the duplicate record. If you create a
new record for an existing patient, their lab results, imaging, and billing history are split
across two MRNs, leading to potential patient safety issues and massive revenue cycle
clean-up efforts later.
Q10: When looking at an Epic patient search results list, you see a column labeled
"Match Score" or "Confidence Score." If a record has a score of 95%, what does that
mean?
A. There is a 95% chance the patient will pay their bill.
B. The system's algorithm is 95% confident that this search result matches the criteria
you typed in. [CORRECT]
C. The patient's identity has been verified by the government 95% of the way.
D. Only 95% of the patient's demographic fields have been filled out.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The match score reflects the mathematical probability that the record pulled
up matches your search string. A 95% score means the data you typed (like DOB, SSN,
name) aligns almost perfectly with the record.
Q11: A patient comes in and says, "I was here three years ago, but I think I used my
maiden name, Rodriguez, instead of my married name, Hernandez." How should you
approach the search?
A. Search "Hernandez" because that is her legal name now.
B. Search "Rodriguez" using her current DOB and SSN to see if you can locate the old
record to update. [CORRECT]
C. Search "Hernandez-Rodriguez" with a hyphen.
D. Just create a new record under Hernandez because it's been three years.
Correct Answer: B
Complete Solutions for Certified Patient Billing Specialist |
Hyperspace Certification Prep | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Finding the Right Chart: Patient Search & MRN Management
Q1: When you're sitting at your Prelude workstation and a patient hands you an ID,
what is the very first thing you should do before typing anything into the search bar?
A. Ask the patient for their Social Security Number to ensure you get the exact right
chart.
B. Ask the patient to verbally verify their full legal name, date of birth, and address to
ensure you are pulling up the correct record. [CORRECT]
C. Swipe their driver's license on the barcode reader so the system auto-populates.
D. Search by their phone number because it is the most unique identifier in Epic.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Best practices and CPBS standards dictate that you always verify at least
two patient identifiers (usually name and DOB) with the patient before you search. This
prevents you from pulling up the wrong chart if the ID they handed you is outdated or
belongs to someone else. Searching by SSN first is a privacy risk, and while barcode
scanners exist, verbal verification is the foundational step.
Q2: You are trying to find a patient named "John Smith." You know there are probably
dozens of them in the system. Which search strategy is going to give you the most
accurate results without violating privacy protocols?
A. Type "Smith, John" and just pick the one with the closest date of birth.
B. Type "Smith, John" and add the patient's exact date of birth and last four of their
Social Security Number into the search fields. [CORRECT]
C. Type "J Smith" to see if you can narrow it down by middle initial.
D. Pull up a list of all "John Smiths" and ask the patient to point out their address on the
screen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Using multiple specific identifiers (Name, DOB, and last 4 of SSN) filters the
Epic results to the exact individual. Picking a close DOB is dangerous and a common
cause of misidentification. Pulling up a massive list and having the patient look at other
patients' addresses is a major HIPAA violation.
Q3: Let's talk about the Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI). What is its primary job
behind the scenes in Epic?
,A. It stores all of a patient's billing information and copays.
B. It acts as the master database that assigns insurance eligibility codes.
C. It uses algorithms to link medical records across different facilities and visits that
likely belong to the same person. [CORRECT]
D. It automatically generates a new Medical Record Number (MRN) every time a patient
visits a new clinic.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The EMPI is designed to prevent duplicate records by probabilistically
matching data points (name, DOB, SSN, phone) to see if a new registration actually
belongs to an existing patient. It helps maintain a single, unified record for a person
across the enterprise.
Q4: You search for "Maria Garcia" and see two records. Record A has an MRN of 11122
and was created today. Record B has an MRN of 99887 and was created in 2018. Both
have the exact same date of birth and address. What is the most likely situation here,
and what should you do?
A. Record B is the correct one because it's older; you should delete Record A
immediately.
B. They are probably the same person, and Record A was created in error; you should
investigate further and submit a merge request rather than just picking one.
[CORRECT]
C. They are definitely two different people who happen to share a birthday and address;
you should create a third record to be safe.
D. You should register the patient under Record A since it's the most recent, and ignore
Record B.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is a classic duplicate scenario. The identical DOB and address strongly
suggest these are the same person, but you never just delete or randomly choose a
chart. You must look at other clues (like old phone numbers or insurance) and typically
submit a merge request to your HIM or EMPI team to combine them safely without
losing data.
Q5: What does the term "probabilistic matching" mean in the context of patient
searching in Epic?
A. The system requires you to enter exactly 100% of the patient's data perfectly to find
them.
B. The system uses an algorithm to calculate the mathematical probability that two
records belong to the same person based on how closely data points match.
[CORRECT]
C. The system guesses which insurance the patient probably has based on their name.
D. It means the search results are randomized every time you hit enter.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Probabilistic matching evaluates data—like if "John" and "Jonathan" share
the same DOB and SSN, it calculates a high probability they are the same person, even
if the names aren't typed identically. It prevents duplicates caused by typos or
nicknames.
Q6: A patient insists they have been to your hospital before, but when you search their
name and DOB, absolutely nothing comes up. What is your best next step?
A. Tell them they are wrong and create a brand-new record.
B. Try searching by their old phone number, previous address, or a variation of their
name (like a maiden name) before creating a new record. [CORRECT]
C. Search by their Social Security Number, because that is the only 100% foolproof
backup method.
D. Ask them to go home and bring back an old billing statement.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients often forget what name or address they used, or they got married
and their name changed. Searching alternate demographics or aliases is a standard
troubleshooting step to prevent creating a duplicate. SSN is helpful but often not
required at registration, so it might not be in the system.
Q7: In Epic, when you finally locate the correct patient chart, what is the best practice
regarding the patient's face sheet or demographic window before proceeding with the
visit?
A. Just verify the name at the top of the screen and move on to collect the copay.
B. Ask the patient to look away while you verify their address to protect their privacy.
C. Read back the full name, date of birth, and current address on file to have the patient
verbally confirm them. [CORRECT]
D. Assume it is correct since the search pulled it up and move straight to insurance.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: You must confirm the data actually stored in the chart is accurate. Just
because you found "John Smith" doesn't mean the address or DOB attached to that
MRN is actually his. Reading it back ensures data integrity.
Q8: You search for a patient and see a yellow warning triangle next to their name in the
search results. What does this usually indicate in Epic?
A. The patient has a severe allergy to medications.
B. The patient has outstanding medical bills.
C. The patient record is potentially a duplicate or has data quality issues flagged by the
EMPI. [CORRECT]
D. The patient is deceased.
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Warning indicators (often yellow triangles or red flags depending on system
configuration) in the search results typically denote EMPI warnings—meaning the
system thinks this record might be a duplicate of another one, or there are conflicting
data points that need human review before you use this chart.
Q9: Why is it generally considered a bad idea to use the "Create New Patient" workflow
without performing a thorough search first?
A. It takes too long and slows down the checkout process.
B. It creates duplicate medical records, which fragments the patient's medical history
and causes billing nightmares. [CORRECT]
C. The system will automatically delete the old record if you create a new one, causing
data loss.
D. It requires supervisor approval to click the "New Patient" button.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The biggest enemy of a clean EMPI is the duplicate record. If you create a
new record for an existing patient, their lab results, imaging, and billing history are split
across two MRNs, leading to potential patient safety issues and massive revenue cycle
clean-up efforts later.
Q10: When looking at an Epic patient search results list, you see a column labeled
"Match Score" or "Confidence Score." If a record has a score of 95%, what does that
mean?
A. There is a 95% chance the patient will pay their bill.
B. The system's algorithm is 95% confident that this search result matches the criteria
you typed in. [CORRECT]
C. The patient's identity has been verified by the government 95% of the way.
D. Only 95% of the patient's demographic fields have been filled out.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The match score reflects the mathematical probability that the record pulled
up matches your search string. A 95% score means the data you typed (like DOB, SSN,
name) aligns almost perfectly with the record.
Q11: A patient comes in and says, "I was here three years ago, but I think I used my
maiden name, Rodriguez, instead of my married name, Hernandez." How should you
approach the search?
A. Search "Hernandez" because that is her legal name now.
B. Search "Rodriguez" using her current DOB and SSN to see if you can locate the old
record to update. [CORRECT]
C. Search "Hernandez-Rodriguez" with a hyphen.
D. Just create a new record under Hernandez because it's been three years.
Correct Answer: B
