Administrative & LegalQuestion 98 of 100
A patient hands the front desk an advance directive naming a health care proxy. What should be done with the document?
a.Return it to the patient, since the office cannot accept legal documents
b.Scan or file a copy into the medical record and notify the provider that it is on file
c.Store it in the billing folder with the insurance card copy
d.Discard it after the visit, because it applies only in hospitals
Explanation
An advance directive becomes part of the medical record so the patient's wishes and designated decision maker are available to the care team, and the provider should be told it is on file. Returning or discarding it defeats the purpose of documenting the patient's wishes. Filing it with billing paperwork hides it from the clinicians who would need it.
Practice all 100 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- A patient who speaks limited English arrives with her 10-year-old son, who offers to translate the visit. What is the best practice?
- Which question best encourages a patient to describe a symptom in detail during intake?
- Two medical assistants are discussing a patient's positive test result in a crowded elevator. Why is this a problem?
- A medical assistant forgets to chart a wound care treatment until the following morning. How should the entry be made?
- A patient from a culture in which direct eye contact with authority figures is considered disrespectful avoids looking at the medical assistant. What is the most appropriate response?
- A patient telephones and reports crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm with sweating. What should the medical assistant do?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam · How we review