Medical Assistant Exam B Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What action should a medical assistant take when caring for an unresponsive infant?

Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation

What type of infection does a patient with vulvovaginal candidiasis have?

Fungal

For which patient condition should a medical assistant perform a capillary collection instead of a venipuncture?

Previous thrombosis

What action does a medical assistant take to prevent clotting in anticoagulant tubes?

Vice invert anticoagulant tubes Signup and view all the answers

What medical emergency is indicated by chills, nausea, dizziness, and a pale appearance?

Syncope Signup and view all the answers

Which body system is being assessed when scheduling diagnostic tests for a patient's liver and pancreas?

Digestive Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take after receiving a derogatory email from a patient?

Print the email and make notes about topics to be addressed prior to formulating a response Signup and view all the answers

What route of administration should a medical assistant use when performing a TB test?

Intradermal Signup and view all the answers

What should a medical assistant do if a patient experiences pain during an injection?

Place the patient in supine position Signup and view all the answers

What parenteral medication routes should a medical assistant administer for a slow release of medication into the bloodstream?

Transdermal Signup and view all the answers

What procedure code should a medical assistant use if the provider reviewed a patient's systems but did not discuss their family or social history?

Expanded problem focused history Signup and view all the answers

What food should a medical assistant recommend as the best source of insoluble fiber?

Pears with skin Signup and view all the answers

In which abdominal quadrant should a major portion of the liver be palpated?

Right upper Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take before collecting a patient's blood for cholesterol measurement?

Make sure the patient did not eat any food in the past 12 hours Signup and view all the answers

What does the medical assistant identify as an ancillary diagnostic service?

Pathology Signup and view all the answers

What term refers to the range of fees charged by providers with similar training and experience in the same geographical area?

Customary Signup and view all the answers

What level of examination should a medical assistant use for procedural coding if a patient received a dressing without sutures?

Problem focused examination Signup and view all the answers

What organ is located in the left upper quadrant?

Stomach Signup and view all the answers

What indicates the level at which the medical assistant should inflate the cuff when performing the palpatory method for obtaining blood pressure?

30 mm Hg above the radial pulse cessation Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of anorexia should a medical assistant identify?

Excessive exercising Signup and view all the answers

The patient's Bill of Rights protects individuals from what?

Denial of care due to patient's age Signup and view all the answers

What solution should a medical assistant use to prepare a patient scheduled for a blood culture?

Alcohol Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the chain of custody form?

Ensuring that a specimen is packaged as directed Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take to avoid an insurance denial when choosing a diagnosis code?

Coding to the highest level of specificity Signup and view all the answers

What statement should a medical assistant make to a patient scheduled for a standard 12 lead EKG?

You should refrain from talking during the procedure Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take when applying a transdermal patch?

Apply the patch to a hairless area of the patient's skin Signup and view all the answers

What format is appropriate for typing a professional business letter?

Keep flush with the left margin Signup and view all the answers

What item should be in the sterile field when preparing to assist with suturing a wound?

Hemostat Signup and view all the answers

What needle size should a medical assistant choose for administering a subcutaneous injection?

1/2 to 5/8 inch needle, 25 gauge Signup and view all the answers

What statement regarding artifacts in EKG by a new medical assistant indicates a need for further teaching?

Electrical interference on the EKG is not caused by cell phones Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take after a patient leaves the exam room?

Roll up the disposable paper on the table tightly and quickly Signup and view all the answers

What method should a medical assistant use for calculating a patient's heart rate from an EKG tracing?

Divide 1500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves Signup and view all the answers

Where should a medical assistant document information regarding a patient experiencing headaches from reading a computer monitor?

Subjective Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take when performing a fecal occult blood test using a guaiac card?

Interpret a blue color as a positive result Signup and view all the answers

Where should a medical assistant begin coding a diagnosis code for breast cancer in ICD-10?

Alphabetic index Signup and view all the answers

Where do cardiac electrical impulses originate in the heart?

Sinoatrial node Signup and view all the answers

What action should a medical assistant take first to provide culturally competent care?

Examine personal religious and cultural values and beliefs to identify any biases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medical Assistance Responsibilities

In cases of unresponsive infants, initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
Fungal infections, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis, are common in patients presenting with specific symptoms.

Lab Procedures and Patient Care

Perform capillary collection instead of venipuncture for patients with a history of previous thrombosis.
To prevent clotting, anticoagulant tubes must be inverted properly.

Recognizing Medical Emergencies

Symptoms like chills, nausea, dizziness, and pale facial appearance may indicate syncope.

Diagnostic Tests and Assessments

Scheduling tests for liver and pancreas involves assessing the digestive system.
Ensuring patients fast for 12 hours is crucial when collecting blood for cholesterol tests.

Communication and Professional Conduct

In response to a derogatory patient email, print the email and note topics for addressing prior to formulating a response.

Injection Techniques

The intradermal route is used for administering TB tests.
For injections causing patient pain, position the patient supine to provide comfort.

Coding and Documentation

Use the expanded problem-focused history code when only reviewing systems relevant to the chief complaint.
Apply the problem-focused examination level for procedural coding when sutures are not required.
Organize patient information with Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) documentation methodology.

Nutritional Guidance

Pears with skin are an excellent source of insoluble fiber to prevent constipation and hemorrhoids.

Anatomy and Physiology Knowledge

The right upper abdominal quadrant contains the liver.
Persistent left upper quadrant pain may involve the stomach.
Cardiac electrical impulses originate from the sinoatrial (SA) node.

Blood Pressure Measurement

Inflate the cuff 30 mm Hg above the cessation of the radial pulse when using the papillary method.

Anorexia Nerve Characteristics

Excessive exercising is a notable behavior associated with anorexia.

Patient Rights and Ethics

The patient's Bill of Rights ensures protection from denial of care based on age.

Blood Sample Handling

Use alcohol solution to properly prepare the site before drawing blood cultures.
Chain of custody forms are essential to ensure accurate specimen packaging and handling.

Insurance Coding Precision

To avoid insurance denial, always code diagnoses to the highest level of specificity, beginning the process with the alphabetic index for coding.

EKG and Artifact Recognition

Acknowledge that electrical interference on EKG can be caused by cell phones, countering previous misconceptions.

Examination Room Preparation

After a patient's examination, quickly and neatly roll up the disposable paper on the examination table for the next patient.

Medical Communication

When counseling patients, ensure statements reinforce that physical stillness is necessary during a standard 12-lead EKG.

Transdermal Administration

Apply transdermal patches to hairless skin areas for effective medication delivery.

Professional Correspondence

Maintain proper formatting for professional business letters by keeping content flush with the left margin.

Surgical Assistance and Sterility

Ensure sterile instruments like hemostats are available when assisting with wound suturing.

Needle Selection

For subcutaneous injections, a 1/2 to 5/8 inch, 25-gauge needle is the recommended choice.

Fecal Occult Blood Tests

In fecal occult blood tests, interpret a blue color as a positive result indicating possible gastrointestinal issues.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz features flashcards designed to help aspiring medical assistants prepare for Exam B. Each card focuses on important medical terms, procedures, and patient care practices. Test your knowledge on critical situations and common infections you may encounter in the healthcare field.