Quiz & Flashcards on Chapter 2: Medical Assistant Profession

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Questions and Answers

Identify five changes in medical care over the past 25 years that have affected the profession of medical assisting.

More diagnostic tests, administration, paperwork, medical costs, and technology.

List two organizations that have worked to define professionalism for medical assistants.

AAMA and AMT.

What are three important character traits of a professional medical assistant?

Dependability, honesty, tolerance, and organization.

How is caring expressed by a medical assistant?

Putting the needs of others before yourself. Signup and view all the answers

Identify three reasons why neatness and good grooming are important for the medical assistant.

Sense of professionalism, authority, and competence. Signup and view all the answers

What does the medical assistant usually wear when performing clinical tasks? Administrative tasks?

Clinical - scrubs; Administrative - business attire. Signup and view all the answers

Give two specific examples of how the medical assistant can demonstrate initiative.

Perform tasks without being told and being willing to do something when asked even if you don't want to. Signup and view all the answers

List three general principles of effective time management.

Planning, setting goals, and prioritizing. Signup and view all the answers

List four tools that facilitate effective use of time.

Personal organizer, planner, schedule on personal device, or prioritizing events. Signup and view all the answers

Identify four sources of information about professional practice for physicians.

State and federal regulations, regulations of hospitals, health organizations, and national medical boards. Signup and view all the answers

Who is thought to be the author of the oath that served as a guide for good conduct for ancient physicians?

Hippocratic oath - do not harm. Signup and view all the answers

What are five ethical responsibilities of a professional medical assistant?

Admit mistakes, stay within the limits of training, maintain confidentiality, be responsible, and uphold the honor of the profession. Signup and view all the answers

Identify two written sets of standards that provide guidance for professional medical assistants.

AAMA and AMT. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between certification and licensure?

Certification - given exam; Licensure - pass the exam multiple times. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how an individual becomes a certified medical assistant through the AAMA.

Given an exam and graduated from a medical assistant program. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how an individual becomes a registered medical assistant through the AMT.

Pass the exam and graduated from a medical assistant program. Signup and view all the answers

Identify three other organizations that provide certification for medical assistants.

NHA - National Health Care Association; NCCT - National Center for Competency Testing. Signup and view all the answers

What are three credentials other than certification that the medical assistant may be advised to obtain?

CPR/First Aid, hearing tests, and diagnostic testing. Signup and view all the answers

In general, what continuing education requirements are required for recertification?

Every five years you must take and pass the certification exam. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the medical assistant's role related to making appointments and medical records.

Scheduling appointments for patients, organizing files, making time for surgery appointments and/or diagnostic testing, and answering phone calls. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the medical assistant's role in billing, accepting payment, and recording payments.

Code procedures, accepting payments, and recording those payments. Signup and view all the answers

Describe any six areas of clinical responsibility for the medical assistant.

Vital signs, diagnostic tests, urine and blood tests, performing treatment, and drawing blood. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the medical assistant's responsibility if an emergency occurs in the medical office.

Perform CPR and first aid as in your scope of practice until emergency personnel arrives. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the medical assistant's responsibility related to supplies and equipment.

Maintaining inventory and ordering supplies or equipment. Signup and view all the answers

Give examples of three different types of instruction that a medical assistant might give to patients.

Office procedures, diagnostic testing, and follow-up exam schedule. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between patient education and health coaching.

Patient education - knowledge on what is right for the body; Health coaching - helping the patient set goals. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how a medical assistant might function as a patient navigator.

By trying to direct patients in the right direction either literally or with setting health goals. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss three common types of health care facilities where medical assistants often find employment.

Hospitals, doctor's offices, and chiropractor offices. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered unprofessional regarding requiring a payment from any physician to whom a patient is referred?

It is unprofessional - fee splitting; payment shouldn't be expected at all offices or clinics. Signup and view all the answers

What is unprofessional about sending prescriptions automatically to a pharmacy in which the physician owns stock without asking the patient if it is their preferred pharmacy?

It is unprofessional - you must ask a preferred pharmacy because of insurance reasons. Signup and view all the answers

Is it professional to meet with pharmacy representatives during the lunch hour and accept samples of new medications?

Yes, it is professional; it is perfect timing to meet that way you're not cutting into work time and it is a great way to expand your knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

Is it professional to allow the medical assistant to obtain blood specimens and perform blood tests?

Yes, medical assistants are educated on how to do this task. Signup and view all the answers

Can a medical assistant perform routine physical examinations on children and adults?

No, the physician would perform routine physical examinations. Signup and view all the answers

Is it professional for a medical assistant to administer immunizations to infants, children, and adults?

Yes, though any medication must be prescribed by a physician first. Signup and view all the answers

Can a medical assistant authorize prescription refills for patients on long-term medication therapy?

No, the physician must authorize the prescription and the refills. Signup and view all the answers

Is it allowed for a medical assistant to obtain specimens of venous blood by finger stick and phlebotomy and perform diagnostic tests using the blood specimens?

Yes, medical assistants are educated on how to do this task. Signup and view all the answers

What should a medical assistant do if they notice that another coworker in the practice has performed a sterile procedure with no previous training?

Discuss it with the coworker and speak with the supervisor because that is not in their scope of practice. Signup and view all the answers

Define scope of practice.

The procedures and actions that a health care professional is permitted to undertake. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Changes in Medical Care

Increased use of diagnostic tests over the past 25 years.
Growth in administrative tasks and paperwork associated with medical care.
Rising medical costs impacting accessibility and patient care.
Advancements in technology changing methods of treatment and patient interaction.
Greater emphasis on patient-centered care and communication.

Professional Organizations

AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) promotes professionalism in medical assisting.
AMT (American Medical Technologists) also sets standards and guidelines for the profession.

Traits of a Professional Medical Assistant

Dependability: Essential for maintaining trust and continuity in patient care.
Honesty: Builds credibility with patients and healthcare teams.
Tolerance: Facilitates positive interactions with diverse patient populations.
Organization: Critical for managing multiple tasks and ensuring efficient operations.

Expression of Caring

A medical assistant shows caring by prioritizing the needs of patients above personal interests.

Importance of Neatness and Grooming

Contributes to a professional image, enhancing trust and authority.
Reflects competence, reassuring patients about the quality of care.

Medical Assistant Attire

Clinical tasks typically require medical scrubs.
Administrative tasks generally involve business attire.

Demonstrating Initiative

Performing tasks proactively without needing explicit instructions.
Being willing to assist in additional duties upon request, even if it might be inconvenient.

Effective Time Management Principles

Planning ahead to allocate sufficient time for tasks.
Setting clear goals to maintain focus on priorities.
Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance.

Tools for Time Management

Personal organizers help track appointments and responsibilities.
Planners facilitate daily and weekly scheduling.
Digital devices used for creating schedules and reminders.

Sources of Professional Practice Information

State and federal regulations guide professional standards.
Hospital policies and health organization protocols are essential for compliance.
Guidelines from national medical boards inform best practices.

Hippocratic Oath

Attributed to Hippocrates, emphasizes the principle of "do no harm."

Ethical Responsibilities

Admitting mistakes enhances accountability and trust.
Operating within the limits of training prevents harm to patients.
Maintaining confidentiality protects patient privacy.
Upholding the profession's honor fosters public trust.

Standards for Medical Assistants

AAMA and AMT provide written standards that guide medical assistants' professional behavior.

Certification vs. Licensure

Certification involves passing an exam, verifying competence.
Licensure typically requires passing multiple exams and ensures ongoing qualifications.

Path to Certification

Certification through AAMA necessitates graduation from a medical assisting program and passing a qualifying exam.

Path to Registration

Registration with AMT similarly requires graduation from an accredited program and passing the relevant exam.

Additional Credentialing Organizations

NHA (National Healthcareer Association) issues certifications for medical assistants.
NCCT (National Center for Competency Testing) offers additional certification options.

Recommended Additional Credentials

CPR and first aid certifications for emergency preparedness.
Skills in conducting hearing tests and diagnostic testing are valuable.

Continuing Education Requirements

Recertification generally requires passing an exam every five years to demonstrate ongoing competence.

Roles in Appointment and Record Management

Responsibilities include scheduling patient appointments and organizing medical records.
Essential tasks also involve managing surgery and diagnostic testing schedules.

Roles in Billing and Payment

Medical assistants are involved in coding procedures, processing payments, and maintaining accurate financial records.

Clinical Responsibilities

Vital signs monitoring, conducting diagnostic tests, and performing treatments are key responsibilities.
Blood and urine samples collection for testing are part of standard duties.

Emergency Responsibilities

Trained to perform CPR and first aid within their scope until professional medical help arrives.

Supplies and Equipment Management

Duties include keeping track of inventory and ordering necessary medical supplies or equipment.

Patient Instruction Types

Medical assistants educate patients on office procedures, diagnostic tests, and follow-up appointment schedules.

Patient Education vs. Health Coaching

Patient education provides knowledge on health management.
Health coaching focuses on helping patients set and achieve personal health goals.

Patient Navigator Role

Assists patients by guiding them through healthcare processes and helping them establish health objectives.

Employment Settings for Medical Assistants

Common workplaces include hospitals, physician offices, and chiropractic facilities.

Unprofessional Practices

Fee splitting with referred physicians violates ethics; no payment expectations should exist.
Automatically sending prescriptions to pharmacies owned by the physician raises insurance conflict issues.
Dating a former patient creates a conflict of interest; maintaining professional boundaries is essential.
Treating patients outside a physician's specialty is beyond proper scope of practice.

Professional Practices

Medical assistants can obtain and analyze urine specimens as part of their training.
Immunization administration is permissible with prior physician prescription.

Scope of Practice

Defined by the range of procedures and actions that a healthcare professional is permitted to perform.

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Description

This quiz explores key changes in medical care and the evolving role of the medical assistant over the past 25 years. It covers important organizations promoting professionalism, as well as essential character traits for success in the field. Test your knowledge about these critical concepts in medical assisting!

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