In all the chapters the Case Studies represent situations similar to those that the medical assistant may encounter in daily practice. Students are encouraged to consider the case study as they read each chapter.

Meg is a CMA and is the first to arrive each morning at the busy medical practice where she works. As she unlocks the back door, she is thinking about the entry process. She knows she will set off an alarm as she enters and that she must go immediately to the security alarm box on the nearby wall and type in her security code number to turn off the system.

Meg walks to the front door and unlocks it. As she walks to her desk, she notices the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall. She makes a note to herself to call the maintenance company today to notify them that the expiration date on the extinguisher is this month. They will replace the old one with another extinguisher.

Meg next turns on all the lights. As she walks through the quiet front office, she sees three messages in the fax machine that have come in overnight. She picks them up and scans them quickly before she places them in the center of her desk.

She switches on the copy machines. On the top display is a four-digit number that indicates the number of copies each machine has made this month. Because it is the first of the month, she will call the leasing company today to report that number. Her office is billed based on how many copies are made each month.

Sitting at her desk, Meg turns off the telephone answering machine, which has been in operation throughout the night. There are four messages. As she listens, she makes careful notes before she discards each message and turns off the system. She knows that the phone will start ringing soon. Meg turns on her computer and reviews all the tasks ahead of her today as a CMA in a busy medical practice. She has received e-mail from another doctor's office asking her to call about a new referral. Another e-mail is requesting medical records.

There is one more thing Meg must check before she settles in to her day's work. She makes her way to the break room and makes a big pot of coffee for all the staff. With a steaming coffee mug in hand, Meg walks back to her desk. Let the day begin!

As you read this chapter, consider the following questions:

1. What factors might go into the choice of an answering machine over the use of an answering service?

2. What backups for system failure might be important for the equipment in a medical office?

3. How could a misdialed phone number on the fax machine impact the life of a patient?

4. Why is routine maintenance of all office equipment important?