Office Administrative Assistant Practice Exam

What safeguard should a Medical Front Office Assistant take when leaving their computer workstation?

1. Log out of all applications

2. Turn off the computer

3. Lock the computer

4. Minimize all open windows

The correct answer is: Lock the computer

Locking the computer is an essential safeguard for a Medical Front Office Assistant when leaving their workstation because it prevents unauthorized access to sensitive patient information and other confidential data. Locking the computer ensures that even if someone else approaches the workstation, they cannot view or interact with the system without entering a password. This is particularly important in a medical environment where protecting patient privacy and complying with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) are critical. Locking the computer creates a temporary barrier that maintains data security while allowing the assistant to step away briefly. The other options, while they may offer various degrees of security, do not provide the same level of immediate protection as locking the computer does. Logging out of applications might be more cumbersome, especially if the assistant needs to return to the same programs quickly. Turning off the computer would also take more time to boot up, while minimizing windows does not actually prevent access to the underlying applications or data. Thus, locking the computer stands out as the most effective immediate safeguard to maintain confidentiality and security at the workstation.