Patient Registration & Information Management Flashcards

A patient presents to the ED unconscious and without identification. What should the PAR do for registration?

Answer: Create a temporary 'John/Jane Doe' record and document the circumstances

Hospitals use temporary or 'unknown' patient records in emergency situations to allow care to proceed while identity is established.

Which of the following is NOT a standard element collected during patient registration?

Answer: Patient's religious affiliation for dietary planning

Religious affiliation may be collected for care planning in some facilities, but it is not a standard required registration data element.

What is the purpose of assigning a unique Medical Record Number (MRN) to each patient?

Answer: To uniquely identify the patient across all encounters and prevent duplicate records

The MRN is a unique identifier that links all of a patient's records within a healthcare system, supporting continuity of care and reducing registration errors.

A patient refuses to provide their Social Security Number during registration. The PAR should:

Answer: Note the refusal and register the patient using other required identifiers

SSN collection is optional in most registration contexts; patients have the right to decline, and care cannot be withheld for this reason.

What is the function of an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) in patient registration?

Answer: It notifies Medicare patients that a service may not be covered and they may be liable for the cost

An ABN informs Medicare patients in advance that a specific service may be denied as not medically necessary, so they can decide whether to proceed and accept financial responsibility.

During registration, a patient states they have both Medicare and a supplemental private insurance. Which payer is listed as primary?

Answer: Medicare, as it is always primary for Medicare beneficiaries

Medicare is typically the primary payer for Medicare beneficiaries, with supplemental (Medigap) or secondary insurance paying remaining balances.

A patient signs an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form at registration. What does this authorize?

Answer: Direct payment of insurance benefits to the healthcare provider rather than to the patient

An AOB form directs the insurer to pay the provider directly rather than reimbursing the patient, facilitating smoother billing.