Which activity is a primary business office responsibility?

• A. Coordinating patient care
• B. Scheduling appointments
• C. Admitting patients and collecting payments
• D. Maintaining medical equipment

Answer: (C)

The activity that best fits the primary duties of the hospital’s business office is admitting patients and collecting payments. The business office handles the financial and administrative side of operations: admitting patients means creating their registration and financial record, capturing demographics and insurance information, and starting the billing process. Collecting payments covers billing, collecting copays, and managing accounts receivable. These tasks keep the hospital financially functioning and ensure patient information and charges are accurately recorded.

Coordinating patient care is a clinical function focused on planning and coordinating medical treatment. Maintaining medical equipment is a facilities/biomedical function. Scheduling appointments is typically handled by patient access or front-desk staff, but not the core financial/administrative responsibilities of the business office.