MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION
EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL
REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE
UPDATE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
ASSURES PASS
1. A patient calls the office reporting chest pain and shortness of breath. The
appropriate first action for a medical office assistant is:
A. Schedule the patient for the next available appointment
B. Advise the patient to take over-the-counter medication
C. Call emergency services immediately
D. Ask the patient to rest and monitor symptoms at home
Rationale: Chest pain and shortness of breath are potential medical
emergencies. Immediate activation of EMS is required rather than delaying
care.
2. The primary purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) is to:
A. Regulate medical billing procedures only
B. Protect patient privacy and secure health information
C. Mandate standard medical coding systems
D. Control licensing of healthcare providers
Rationale: HIPAA sets national standards to protect sensitive patient health
information from unauthorized disclosure.
3. A patient’s chart indicates an allergy to penicillin. Which action is the
MOST important for the medical office assistant when scheduling
procedures?
A. Remind the patient to bring medication
, B. Alert the provider and document the allergy in the chart
C. Assume the provider knows and proceed
D. Call the pharmacy for alternatives
Rationale: Patient safety requires all allergies to be clearly documented and
communicated to providers before treatment.
4. During a phone call, a patient requests a lab result that shows elevated
glucose. The assistant should:
A. Provide the result immediately
B. Explain what the result means
C. Refer the patient to the physician for interpretation
D. Document the call and give reassurance
Rationale: Office assistants cannot interpret lab results. Only the physician
should explain clinical significance.
5. Which of the following is the MOST effective way to reduce the risk of
healthcare-associated infections in an office?
A. Wearing gloves during paperwork
B. Using antiseptic mouthwash
C. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
D. Cleaning only visibly soiled surfaces
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method to
prevent transmission of infectious agents.
6. A patient refuses a recommended vaccine. The assistant should:
A. Insist the patient comply
B. Cancel the appointment
C. Document refusal and notify the provider
D. Explain scientific benefits until the patient agrees
, Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The refusal must be
documented and communicated to the provider.
7. When scheduling multiple patients, which principle ensures efficient
workflow?
A. Scheduling only one type of appointment per day
B. Allowing buffer times for emergencies and walk-ins
C. Scheduling patients back-to-back with no gaps
D. Assigning the longest appointments first
Rationale: Including buffer time prevents delays and accommodates urgent
patient needs.
8. Which legal doctrine protects a medical assistant from liability when acting
under a provider’s direct orders?
A. Malpractice
B. Respondeat superior
C. Informed consent
D. Negligence per se
Rationale: Respondeat superior holds the employer liable for employees’
actions performed within their scope of employment.
9. The best method for maintaining patient confidentiality in electronic health
records is:
A. Sharing login credentials with colleagues
B. Printing records for everyone to access
C. Using unique user IDs and secure passwords
D. Leaving screens unlocked for convenience
Rationale: Secure access controls prevent unauthorized disclosure of patient
information.
, 10.A patient arrives 15 minutes late for a routine check-up. The MOST
appropriate action is to:
A. Refuse to see the patient
B. See the patient without adjusting the schedule
C. Determine if the patient can still be accommodated and reschedule if
necessary
D. Penalize the patient financially
Rationale: Office assistants balance schedule adherence with patient care,
accommodating late arrivals when feasible.
11.A patient’s insurance rejects a claim for a procedure as “not medically
necessary.” The assistant should:
A. Tell the patient to pay out of pocket
B. Ignore the rejection
C. Bill another insurance
D. Contact the insurer for clarification and assist with appeal if
appropriate
Rationale: Proper handling of denied claims involves verifying coverage,
obtaining documentation, and assisting with appeal.
12.In preparing an exam room, the assistant notices a torn glove. The correct
action is:
A. Ignore and use it
B. Ask the provider to replace it
C. Replace the glove and inspect other supplies for defects
D. Use a disinfectant instead
Rationale: Using defective PPE compromises infection control; supplies
must be inspected and replaced as needed.
EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL
REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE
UPDATE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
ASSURES PASS
1. A patient calls the office reporting chest pain and shortness of breath. The
appropriate first action for a medical office assistant is:
A. Schedule the patient for the next available appointment
B. Advise the patient to take over-the-counter medication
C. Call emergency services immediately
D. Ask the patient to rest and monitor symptoms at home
Rationale: Chest pain and shortness of breath are potential medical
emergencies. Immediate activation of EMS is required rather than delaying
care.
2. The primary purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) is to:
A. Regulate medical billing procedures only
B. Protect patient privacy and secure health information
C. Mandate standard medical coding systems
D. Control licensing of healthcare providers
Rationale: HIPAA sets national standards to protect sensitive patient health
information from unauthorized disclosure.
3. A patient’s chart indicates an allergy to penicillin. Which action is the
MOST important for the medical office assistant when scheduling
procedures?
A. Remind the patient to bring medication
, B. Alert the provider and document the allergy in the chart
C. Assume the provider knows and proceed
D. Call the pharmacy for alternatives
Rationale: Patient safety requires all allergies to be clearly documented and
communicated to providers before treatment.
4. During a phone call, a patient requests a lab result that shows elevated
glucose. The assistant should:
A. Provide the result immediately
B. Explain what the result means
C. Refer the patient to the physician for interpretation
D. Document the call and give reassurance
Rationale: Office assistants cannot interpret lab results. Only the physician
should explain clinical significance.
5. Which of the following is the MOST effective way to reduce the risk of
healthcare-associated infections in an office?
A. Wearing gloves during paperwork
B. Using antiseptic mouthwash
C. Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact
D. Cleaning only visibly soiled surfaces
Rationale: Proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method to
prevent transmission of infectious agents.
6. A patient refuses a recommended vaccine. The assistant should:
A. Insist the patient comply
B. Cancel the appointment
C. Document refusal and notify the provider
D. Explain scientific benefits until the patient agrees
, Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment. The refusal must be
documented and communicated to the provider.
7. When scheduling multiple patients, which principle ensures efficient
workflow?
A. Scheduling only one type of appointment per day
B. Allowing buffer times for emergencies and walk-ins
C. Scheduling patients back-to-back with no gaps
D. Assigning the longest appointments first
Rationale: Including buffer time prevents delays and accommodates urgent
patient needs.
8. Which legal doctrine protects a medical assistant from liability when acting
under a provider’s direct orders?
A. Malpractice
B. Respondeat superior
C. Informed consent
D. Negligence per se
Rationale: Respondeat superior holds the employer liable for employees’
actions performed within their scope of employment.
9. The best method for maintaining patient confidentiality in electronic health
records is:
A. Sharing login credentials with colleagues
B. Printing records for everyone to access
C. Using unique user IDs and secure passwords
D. Leaving screens unlocked for convenience
Rationale: Secure access controls prevent unauthorized disclosure of patient
information.
, 10.A patient arrives 15 minutes late for a routine check-up. The MOST
appropriate action is to:
A. Refuse to see the patient
B. See the patient without adjusting the schedule
C. Determine if the patient can still be accommodated and reschedule if
necessary
D. Penalize the patient financially
Rationale: Office assistants balance schedule adherence with patient care,
accommodating late arrivals when feasible.
11.A patient’s insurance rejects a claim for a procedure as “not medically
necessary.” The assistant should:
A. Tell the patient to pay out of pocket
B. Ignore the rejection
C. Bill another insurance
D. Contact the insurer for clarification and assist with appeal if
appropriate
Rationale: Proper handling of denied claims involves verifying coverage,
obtaining documentation, and assisting with appeal.
12.In preparing an exam room, the assistant notices a torn glove. The correct
action is:
A. Ignore and use it
B. Ask the provider to replace it
C. Replace the glove and inspect other supplies for defects
D. Use a disinfectant instead
Rationale: Using defective PPE compromises infection control; supplies
must be inspected and replaced as needed.
