CCMA Certification Study Guide Flashcards

Medical Terminology and Practices

• Chief Complaint (CC): Primary reason for a patient's visit, typically answerable with questions like "What's wrong?"
• History of Present Illness (HPI): Detailed account of the onset and progression of the current illness or symptom.
• Vital Signs: Include temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; crucial for assessing a patient's condition.

Body Temperature and Fever Types

• Normal Oral Temperature: Ranges from 97.6°F to 99.6°F.
• Intermittent Fever: Fluctuates between high and normal/subnormal temperatures.
• Remittent Fever: Characterized by significant fluctuations without dropping to normal levels.
• Continuous Fever: Remains above baseline without fluctuations.

Cardiovascular Measurements

• Normal Pulse Rate: Between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM).
• Systole: Refers to the contraction phase of the heart.
• Diastole: Indicates the relaxation phase of the heart.

Patient Assessment Techniques

• Anthropometric Measurements: Include height, weight, BMI, and other body metrics such as waist-to-hip ratio and body fat percentage.
• Inspection: Involves observing general appearance, nutritional state, body structure, and speech.
• Palpation: Examining the body using touch.
• Percussion: Tapping on the body to assess underlying structures by sounds or vibrations.
• Auscultation: Listening to internal organ sounds to assist with diagnosis.

Safety and Emergency Procedures

• OSHA: Agency focused on ensuring safe working conditions in the workplace.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Essential emergency procedure involving artificial respiration and chest compressions.
• Shock: Results from inadequate blood flow, leading to symptoms like pale skin, rapid weak pulse, and shallow breathing.

Infection Control Concepts

• Portal of Exit: Routes through which infectious agents leave their reservoir, e.g., body fluids like blood.
• Mode of Transmission: Methods by which infections spread, including contact, droplet, airborne, vehicles, or vectorborne.
• Portal of Entry: Pathways through which pathogens enter a host, such as cuts or mucous membranes.
• Susceptible Host: Individuals lacking sufficient resistance to pathogens.

Sterilization and Infection Prevention

• Disinfection: Process to eliminate pathogenic organisms on inanimate objects; excludes spores.
• Chemical Sterilization: Extends disinfectant exposure time for more effective sterilization.
• Steam Sterilization (Autoclave): Utilizes steam under pressure at 250-254°F for 20-40 minutes for sterilization.
• Hand Washing: Most effective method for preventing infection transmission.
• Hand Antisepsis: Removal of transient microbes using antimicrobial soaps.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Includes masks, goggles, face shields, and respirators to protect against exposure.