Practice Management
Practice management tests scheduling, inventory control, medical records, billing, occupational safety, controlled-substance accountability, and team workflow. The exam expects practical decisions that keep a clinic compliant, solvent, and efficient.
Core rules and concepts
- Medical records are legal documents. Record date, time, history, examination findings, treatments, drugs and doses, client communication, and discharge instructions. Never alter a record retroactively without indicating the correction and initials.
- Inventory control uses reorder points, par levels, and rotation. Track high-value and controlled drugs separately, and reconcile counts regularly.
- OSHA requires hazard communication, safety training, sharps handling, and exposure control. Radiation workers need badges and shielding.
- Controlled-substance logs must match physical inventory. Discrepancies require investigation and documentation.
- Scheduling should match appointment length to procedure complexity and allow urgent-care slots. Billing errors are reduced by treatment estimates and itemized invoices.
Worked example
A clinic uses 20 boxes of a product per week, has a two-week supplier lead time, and wants 20 boxes of safety stock. Reorder point = usage during lead time plus safety stock = (20 × 2) + 20 = 60 boxes. Order when inventory reaches 60, not when shelves are empty, and rotate stock so older lots are used first.
Traps that cost marks
- Documenting a treatment only on a whiteboard or verbally.
- Failing to reconcile controlled-substance counts.
- Ordering inventory without accounting for lead time and safety stock.
- Ignoring OSHA training or sharps exposure protocols.