CEHRS Patient Registration and Demographics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is registered as 'John Smith' but their insurance card shows 'Jonathan Smith.' What is the correct action?
- Change the EHR name to match the insurance card without asking the patient
- Verify with the patient which name is correct and update accordingly (Correct answer)
- Create two separate patient records for each name
- Submit claims under both names to ensure payment
Correct answer: Verify with the patient which name is correct and update accordingly
Patient confirmation ensures the legal name is recorded accurately, which affects both identity verification and claims processing.
Question 2: Which of the following demographic fields is most important for calculating a patient's insurance eligibility and benefits?
- Preferred language
- Date of birth (Correct answer)
- Marital status
- Employer address
Correct answer: Date of birth
Date of birth is used by insurers to verify eligibility, determine age-specific benefits, and confirm subscriber identity.
Question 3: What is the primary function of the Master Patient Index (MPI) in an EHR system?
- To store clinical documentation for all patients
- To maintain a unique identifier and demographic data for every patient (Correct answer)
- To track insurance eligibility in real time
- To manage appointment scheduling across departments
Correct answer: To maintain a unique identifier and demographic data for every patient
The MPI serves as the definitive registry of patient identity, linking demographics to a unique record number across the system.
Question 4: A patient reports they recently changed their legal name due to marriage. Which document should the EHR specialist request to update the record?
- A utility bill showing the new name
- Legal documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order (Correct answer)
- A note from the patient's physician
- An updated insurance card only
Correct answer: Legal documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order
Legal documentation is required to validate a name change before updating the official medical record.
Question 5: During registration, a patient lists two insurance plans. Which plan is typically billed first according to coordination of benefits rules?
- The plan with the highest premium
- The primary insurance plan (Correct answer)
- The most recently obtained plan
- The plan associated with the patient's employer
Correct answer: The primary insurance plan
Coordination of benefits (COB) rules require the primary insurer to be billed first, with any remainder sent to the secondary insurer.
Question 6: A patient's demographic record shows their sex as 'male' but they identify as a transgender woman. What is the best practice for documenting this in the EHR?
- Override the field to 'female' without documentation of the change
- Record both the administrative sex and the gender identity in separate designated fields (Correct answer)
- Do not change any fields to avoid system errors
- Add a free-text note only, leaving structured fields unchanged
Correct answer: Record both the administrative sex and the gender identity in separate designated fields
Modern EHRs include separate fields for administrative sex (used for billing/clinical defaults) and gender identity, supporting accurate and respectful care.
Question 7: Which of the following represents a 'phantom' duplicate in the MPI?
- A patient record created for a deceased individual
- A fictitious patient record created in error with no real patient attached (Correct answer)
- A record flagged for incomplete demographics
- A merged record that retains two active MRNs
Correct answer: A fictitious patient record created in error with no real patient attached
A phantom duplicate is a record that was created erroneously and has no corresponding real patient, polluting the MPI with false entries.
CEHRS Patient Registration and Demographics 3
A patient is registered as 'John Smith' but their insurance card shows 'Jonathan Smith.' What is the correct action?