Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What are the four main elements of history taking that affect coding for the exam?

1. Chief complaint, family history, social history, allergies

2. Chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems, past medical history

3. Chief complaint, past ocular history, review of systems, family history

4. Chief complaint, duration, timing, context

The correct answer is: Chief complaint, history of present illness, review of systems, past medical history

The correct answer focuses on the essential components that provide a comprehensive understanding of a patient's health status and are crucial for accurate coding of the exam. The chief complaint is a brief statement describing the primary issue the patient is experiencing, and it sets the stage for the entire examination. The history of present illness expands on the chief complaint by elucidating the details surrounding the current condition, such as onset, exacerbating or relieving factors, and associated symptoms. The review of systems is a systematic approach that gathers information about other bodily systems to identify any additional issues that may not have been initially disclosed or considered. Finally, the past medical history includes previous illnesses, surgeries, and treatments that are relevant to current health status, which can impact diagnosis and management strategies. Together, these four elements form a structured framework that captures the patient's medical narrative, which is essential for both clinical decision-making and appropriate coding for reimbursement purposes. Other elements mentioned in the alternate choices, while important, do not encompass the necessary breadth and depth of content for optimal coding related to the exam.