DLM(ASCP) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES AGRADE
(FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, QUALITY MANAGEMENT)
Project Volumes (forecasting stage) - (ANSWER)based on expert opinion, stats, historical data,
shifts in patient mix, changes in medical staff composition, changes in inflation/reimbursement
ratws, expansion/cutbacks, population fluctuations based on economy
Steps to creating a budget - (ANSWER)1. project volumes
2. convert volumes to revenue
3. convert volumes into expense requirements
4. Adjust revenue/ expenses as necessary to meet budget margin
gross revenue - (ANSWER)Rates x Production Unit (Billable test volume)
Expenses - (ANSWER)salaries/wages, reference service, instrument lease, maintenance
contracts, education/travel
Financial Statements - (ANSWER)convey the financial status of an organization
4 main types - income statement, balance sheet statement of changes in equity and statement of
cash flows.
income statement - (ANSWER)summarizes the operations of an organization with a focus on its
revenues, expenses, and profitability. contains operational results over a period of time.
depreciation - (ANSWER)noncash charge against earnings on income statement that reflect the
"wear and tear" on a business' fixed assets (property and equipment). loss of value
,salvage value - (ANSWER)amount received when final disposition occurs at end of the asset's
useful life.
annual depreciation - (ANSWER)(initial cost - salvage value)/ useful life
Profit - (ANSWER)net income -expense
cashflow - (ANSWER)net income + depreciation
Total Profit Margin - (ANSWER)Net income divided by total revenues. It measures the amount
of total profit per dollar of total revenues.
fixed costs - (ANSWER)cost not related to the volume of services delivered (ex. facilities cost,
lab admin, instrument leases, maintenance contracts)
variable cost - (ANSWER)directly related to the volume of services delivered (ex. supplies,
labor costs)
Profit Analysis - (ANSWER)technique use to analyze the effects of volume changes on profit.
can also be used to analyze effects of volume changes on costs.
Total Costs - (ANSWER)fixed costs + variable costs
Variable costs = variable cost rate x volume
contribution margin - (ANSWER)difference between per unit revenue and per unit variable
cost. gives the amount left to cover the fixed costs. after fixed costs are covered what's left
contributes to the profit.
,accounting breakeven - (ANSWER)Volume needed to produce zero profit. Revenues cover all
accounting costs.
Total Revenue (cost x volume) - Total Variable (variable cost rate x volume) - fixed costs = $0
economic breakeven - (ANSWER)occurs when all accounting costs plus a profit target are
covered
total revenue - total variable cost- fixed cost = profit
Surcharge/Cost Plus - (ANSWER)used for reference/send out testing. Determine cost of doing a
procedure then add markup factor to get appropriate price.
weight value basis - (ANSWER)each test performed is assigned a weight based on cost of
performing the test in relation to the procedure.
patient day factor - (ANSWER)the number of patients in a hospital on a given day.
(average patient day/ daily census for the year) x 365
tests per patient days - (ANSWER)test volume/ patient days
revenue per test - (ANSWER)gross revenue/test volume
direct costs - (ANSWER)test-specific costs (Variable)
examples - supplies, instrumentation, reagents, tech time
indirect cost - (ANSWER)remain constant
examples - lab admin, medical records, house keeping, utilities, etc. (fixed/semi-variable)
unit costs - (ANSWER)total direct + indirect expenses
, Employment cycle - (ANSWER)covers all stages in the process of employing staff:
1. recruitment and acquisition costs (pre-employment screen)
2. training/developmental costs (ongoing)
3. productive/operational periods
4. termination/separation of employee from institution costs
analyze labor costs - (ANSWER)institutional labor cost evaluation (employment cycle)
technical evaluation of labor cost - assign labor costs to production activities that generate
expenses. helps manager identify where efforts are being expended and productivity
accounting and budgeting labor analysis - helps monitor staffing levels, productivity and
management performance against budget objectives
preanalytical time - (ANSWER)specimen collection, prep, instrument
analytical time - (ANSWER)performing/resulting tests
post analytical time - (ANSWER)reporting and routine maintenance
total hours - (ANSWER)productive hours + nonproductive hours
productive hours - (ANSWER)actual worked hours includes overtime and training
nonproductive hours - (ANSWER)compensated but not worked. sick leave, vacation,
bereavement, etc.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) - (ANSWER)An employee who works full-time, 40 hours per week,
2080 hours per year (total number of hours paid/ 2080)
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES AGRADE
(FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, QUALITY MANAGEMENT)
Project Volumes (forecasting stage) - (ANSWER)based on expert opinion, stats, historical data,
shifts in patient mix, changes in medical staff composition, changes in inflation/reimbursement
ratws, expansion/cutbacks, population fluctuations based on economy
Steps to creating a budget - (ANSWER)1. project volumes
2. convert volumes to revenue
3. convert volumes into expense requirements
4. Adjust revenue/ expenses as necessary to meet budget margin
gross revenue - (ANSWER)Rates x Production Unit (Billable test volume)
Expenses - (ANSWER)salaries/wages, reference service, instrument lease, maintenance
contracts, education/travel
Financial Statements - (ANSWER)convey the financial status of an organization
4 main types - income statement, balance sheet statement of changes in equity and statement of
cash flows.
income statement - (ANSWER)summarizes the operations of an organization with a focus on its
revenues, expenses, and profitability. contains operational results over a period of time.
depreciation - (ANSWER)noncash charge against earnings on income statement that reflect the
"wear and tear" on a business' fixed assets (property and equipment). loss of value
,salvage value - (ANSWER)amount received when final disposition occurs at end of the asset's
useful life.
annual depreciation - (ANSWER)(initial cost - salvage value)/ useful life
Profit - (ANSWER)net income -expense
cashflow - (ANSWER)net income + depreciation
Total Profit Margin - (ANSWER)Net income divided by total revenues. It measures the amount
of total profit per dollar of total revenues.
fixed costs - (ANSWER)cost not related to the volume of services delivered (ex. facilities cost,
lab admin, instrument leases, maintenance contracts)
variable cost - (ANSWER)directly related to the volume of services delivered (ex. supplies,
labor costs)
Profit Analysis - (ANSWER)technique use to analyze the effects of volume changes on profit.
can also be used to analyze effects of volume changes on costs.
Total Costs - (ANSWER)fixed costs + variable costs
Variable costs = variable cost rate x volume
contribution margin - (ANSWER)difference between per unit revenue and per unit variable
cost. gives the amount left to cover the fixed costs. after fixed costs are covered what's left
contributes to the profit.
,accounting breakeven - (ANSWER)Volume needed to produce zero profit. Revenues cover all
accounting costs.
Total Revenue (cost x volume) - Total Variable (variable cost rate x volume) - fixed costs = $0
economic breakeven - (ANSWER)occurs when all accounting costs plus a profit target are
covered
total revenue - total variable cost- fixed cost = profit
Surcharge/Cost Plus - (ANSWER)used for reference/send out testing. Determine cost of doing a
procedure then add markup factor to get appropriate price.
weight value basis - (ANSWER)each test performed is assigned a weight based on cost of
performing the test in relation to the procedure.
patient day factor - (ANSWER)the number of patients in a hospital on a given day.
(average patient day/ daily census for the year) x 365
tests per patient days - (ANSWER)test volume/ patient days
revenue per test - (ANSWER)gross revenue/test volume
direct costs - (ANSWER)test-specific costs (Variable)
examples - supplies, instrumentation, reagents, tech time
indirect cost - (ANSWER)remain constant
examples - lab admin, medical records, house keeping, utilities, etc. (fixed/semi-variable)
unit costs - (ANSWER)total direct + indirect expenses
, Employment cycle - (ANSWER)covers all stages in the process of employing staff:
1. recruitment and acquisition costs (pre-employment screen)
2. training/developmental costs (ongoing)
3. productive/operational periods
4. termination/separation of employee from institution costs
analyze labor costs - (ANSWER)institutional labor cost evaluation (employment cycle)
technical evaluation of labor cost - assign labor costs to production activities that generate
expenses. helps manager identify where efforts are being expended and productivity
accounting and budgeting labor analysis - helps monitor staffing levels, productivity and
management performance against budget objectives
preanalytical time - (ANSWER)specimen collection, prep, instrument
analytical time - (ANSWER)performing/resulting tests
post analytical time - (ANSWER)reporting and routine maintenance
total hours - (ANSWER)productive hours + nonproductive hours
productive hours - (ANSWER)actual worked hours includes overtime and training
nonproductive hours - (ANSWER)compensated but not worked. sick leave, vacation,
bereavement, etc.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) - (ANSWER)An employee who works full-time, 40 hours per week,
2080 hours per year (total number of hours paid/ 2080)
