COE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield COE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which anatomical structure of the eye is primarily responsible for focusing light onto the retina and changes shape to accommodate for near and distant vision? → Lens
2. Which metric is most useful for measuring physician productivity in an ophthalmic practice? → Relative Value Units (RVUs)
3. A root cause analysis (RCA) is typically conducted following: → A sentinel event or serious patient safety incident
4. Patient-centered care in an ophthalmic practice is best exemplified by: → Involving patients in shared decision-making about their eye care
5. Which leadership style is most appropriate when guiding highly experienced ophthalmic staff through a well-established routine? → Delegative
6. According to OSHA regulations specific to an ophthalmic practice, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for managing workplace safety? → Maintaining a log of injuries from contaminated sharps (OSHA 300 Log).
7. Which of the following is an example of a non-monetary employee benefit? → Health insurance
8. Which tool helps ophthalmic leaders prioritize initiatives by mapping their potential impact against implementation effort? → 2x2 prioritization matrix (Impact vs. Effort)
9. Organizational culture in an ophthalmic practice is MOST directly shaped by: → Leadership behavior and modeled values
10. For an ophthalmic practice to be considered a 'covered employer' under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), it must meet which of the following criteria? → Employ 50 or more employees for 20 or more workweeks in the current or preceding year.
11. Which of the following is an essential feature of a good EHR system for ophthalmic practices? → Comprehensive clinical documentation capabilities specific to ophthalmology
12. A practice manager is tasked with improving the Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) process. The first step in a typical RCM workflow begins with: → Patient registration and insurance verification
13. What is the main function of a balance sheet in financial reporting? → To provide a snapshot of the practice's financial position at a specific point in time
14. What is the significance of HIPAA compliance in ophthalmic practice management? → Protects patient privacy and secures health information
15. In strategic planning, a 'stretch goal' refers to: → An ambitious target that requires significant effort and innovation to achieve
16. A mission statement for an ophthalmic practice should primarily communicate: → The organization's purpose and core values
17. Which of the following strategies is most effective for improving cash flow in an ophthalmic practice? → Reducing the accounts receivable period
18. Which federal law requires ophthalmic practices to provide patients with a Notice of Privacy Practices? → HIPAA
19. What does a high current ratio indicate about an ophthalmic practice's financial health? → The practice has a strong has a strong liquidity position
20. Which accreditation body focuses on ambulatory healthcare quality and is commonly sought by ophthalmic surgery centers? → AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care)
21. When valuing an ophthalmology practice for a potential sale, which of the following is considered an intangible asset? → Goodwill
22. An ophthalmology practice performs tear osmolarity testing, which is a CLIA-waived test. To maintain compliance, which of the following is required? → Enrolling in the CLIA program by obtaining a Certificate of Waiver.
23. A key performance indicator (KPI) best used to measure the effectiveness of a physician referral development program is: → Number of new patient appointments from referring providers
24. In the context of human resources, what does the term "employee turnover" refer to? → The rate at which employee leave the practice and are replaced
25. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures: → Likelihood of patients recommending the practice to others
26. Which component of the Relative Value Unit (RVU) accounts for the cost of clinical and administrative staff salaries, office space, and medical supplies? → Practice Expense (peRVU)
27. Which of the following is a primary function of human resources in an ophthalmic practice? → Recruitment and hiring
28. Which of the following measures can help protect an ophthalmic practice's IT systems from cyberattacks? → Regularly updating software
29. In succession planning for an ophthalmic practice, the primary goal is to: → Ensure continuity of leadership and operations
30. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in an ophthalmic practice are best described as: → Measurable values that track progress toward strategic objectives