Process of using a sigmoidoscope to examine the sigmoid colon to identify disorders or early signs of cancer.

Objective symptom of a disease from a normal condition or that which is observed by an examiner.

List of all staff members’ names, job titles, signatures, and initials . Example of a signature log.

Brief statement that contains the patient’s signature authorization retained in an office file for future use when mailing claims or transmitting electronic claims. It allows the provider to submit assigned and nonassigned insurance claims on the beneficiary’s behalf.

Sign or symptom from a normal condition or important normal observation that assists in making a diagnosis of the patient’s problem.

Type of managed care plan that has a contract with a clause that allows the plan to assign the contract, or parts of it, to another third party. These contracts are considered legal in most states. If an explanation of benefits document has “network discount applied,” then investigate further into the claim to determine if a silent PPO is operating. Always precertify procedures and look at patients’ insurance cards even if the patients are established because this may help discover silent PPOs. Also called blind PPO, phantom PPO, discounted indemnity plans, nondirected PPO , or wraparound PPO .

Physical restoration of damaged tissue when the wound is superficial (e.g., involving primarily epidermis or dermis or subcutaneous tissues without significant involvement of deeper structures, requiring one-layer closure).

State law that if the insured and beneficiary of a life insurance policy both die and determination of who died first cannot be made, then the insured is presumed to be the primary beneficiary unless there is an insurance clause stating otherwise.