CCMA
a medical assistant is preparing a pt who has congestive heart failure for examination by the provider. which of the following manifestations should the assistant expect?
when measuring a pt respiratory rate, which of the following action should an MA take to ensure a accurate reading ?
count the respirations while the patient think his pulse is being obtained
Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal ?
A provider has requested a dissecting instrument on a sterile tray that a medical assistant is preparing. Which of the following instruments should the assistant include on the tray?
A medical assistant is replacing a sharps container in an examination room and receives a small laceration on her arm from a plastic lid. which of the following types of documentation complete as a result of this incident?
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's medical history prior to the patients appointment. which of the following laboratory results indicates the needs to schedule an extension of the current visit?
Fasting blood glucose 168 mg/dl
A medical assistant is reinforcing instructions with a patient about how to take a buccal tablet which of the following instructions should the assistant give the patient?
Place the tablet between your gums and cheek
Which of the following terms a medical assistant use to tell the provider that a patient is having discomfort and difficulty breathing?
Which of the following methods is used to notify a provider of the denial of a claim by an insurance carrier?
Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination ?
Which of the following cardiac procedures is in within a medical assistant's scope of practice and does not require a licensed technician or provider to assist or perform it ?
Holter monitor application
Which of the following EKG artifacts is caused by a disconnected electrode and results in the tracing going into the margins of the paper ?
A medical assistant receives a telephone call from a patient who seems anxious about the results of a test. Which of the following responses should the assistant make?
I know you are concerned about your test results. We'll call you as soon as the results come in
A medical assistant is assisting with a physical examination of a patient who has scabies. Besides gloves, which of the following pieces of personal protective equipment should the assistant wear?
A patient loses consciousness. The EKG tracing reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which of the following should the EKG technician do first?
Call for help and begin CPR
A medical assistant is composing business correspondence using the simplified letter style. Which of the following features should the assistant use?
A subject line in all capital letters
Where should the medical assistant place the electrode for lead V5?
On the left anterior axillary line, horizontal to V4
A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is 5'7 tall. Which of the following patients height in centimeters?
Which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use when bandaging a wound?
Wrap the wound from distal to proximal
Which of the following is outside of a medical assistants scope or practice?
Order additional laboratory tests to confirm the patients conditions
A patient is seen at the urgent care center for a laceration to the left foot. The provider evaluates the injury, determines sutures are not needed, applies a dressing, and releases the patient. Which of the following levels of examination should the medi
Problem - focused examination
Prior to a patient's follow-up appointment, which of the following information should a medical assistant report to the provider?
Recent laboratory results
A medical assistant is reviewing a provider's instructions as the patient is preparing to leave the office. The provider recommends that the patients purchase an over the counter antitussive, but he patient tells the assistant that she does not know what
It is a medication that suppresses the cough reflex
A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the use and care of a transdermal patch. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include in the teaching?
Select a different application location for each new patch
In which of the following positions should a medical assistant place a healthy patient in preparation for a rectal examination?
Which of the following steps for a finger stick should a medical assistant complete first?
Confirm the correct identity of the patient
Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus from the respiratory tract?
A medical assistant in an outpatient facility is preparing a patient for a venipuncture. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to confirm the patient's identity?
Ask the patient to state and spell their full name and provide their date of birth
A medical assistant is reinforcing teaching about a cardiac event monitor with a patient. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the procedure?
I will record any symptoms I experience in the event log
When assisting a provider with a punch biopsy of a mole, which of the following tasks should a medical assistant expect to perform ?
Receive and prepare tissue specimens for processing
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take to verify the quality of venipunctures supplies before beginning a blood draw?
Inspect the integrity of the needle's seal
A medical assistant is contacting a patient to schedule a repeat papanicolaou test due to abnormal results. The assistant should identify that which of the following factors can interfere with the test results.?
using an over the counter vaginal cream prior to the test
A medical assistant has requested a preauthorization for a patient's referral to a specialist. which of the following is a reason for the claim submitted by the specialist to be denied?
The service is provided after the expiration date
A medical assistant has a request to collect a routine CBC from a healthy 10 month old infant. Which of the following is the most appropriate collection site?
A patient tells a medical assistant that his providers office is incompetent, as there is no improvement in his condition. Which of the following is an appropriate response for the assistant to make?
I think that you feel that your treatment is not effective.
A medical assistant is preparing a community resource library. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first ?
Compile a list of local community agencies
Which of the following information's should the medical assistant enter into the appointment calendar when scheduling a patient for a skin rash?
A patient asks A medical assistant to explain the difference between a liniment and a medicated lotion. Which of the following responses should be assistant make?
Liniments contain a higher portion of oil than medicated lotions
A medical assistant is reviewing sutures from a patient who has a laceration on his left lower leg after setting up the sterile field which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Lift the first knot away from the skin
A medical assistant is reviewing a patients recent medical history and notes that she has a healing fracture of the distal femur. Where on the patient's body should the assistant expect to find the injury?
A patient reports getting a bill that includes services she did not receive. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to reconcile these charges?
Review that days encounter forms to determine if another patient received the services
A medical assistant is monitoring and infant patient for a microcephaly. which of the following describe the anthropometric measurement that the assistant should perform ?
A medical assistant is faxing a prescription to a patient pharmacy. which of the following actions should the assistant take?
call the pharmacy to confirm receipt of the faxed prescription .
A medical assistant is collecting a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits moderate hearing loss. which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
Remain within the patient view to allow lip-reading .
A medical assistant is performing spirometry testing for a patient who has shortness of breath. which of the following results of the spirometry test indicates a successful maneuver?
a fast and steady flow with no variability
a medical assistant is measuring a patient oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
check capillary refill in the patient sensor is in place
a medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about the self administration of insulin injections. which of the following patient statements indicates an understanding of the teaching ?
I will roll the medication between my hangs before drawing the medication .
when performing a placatory method for obtaining blood pressure which of the following indicates the level at which the medical assistant should inflate the cuff?
30mm Hg above the radial pulse cessation
which of the following items included on the CMS-1500 claims form should a medical assistant recognize as indicating the medical necessity of a procedure?
a provider examines an older adult patient who is disable and has a lesion on her arm . a medical assistant should anticipate a referral for this patient to which of the following ancillary service?
A medical assistant is determining the amount a patient will be required to pay for a scheduled procedure that has an allowable amount of $200. the patient has $20 co-payment , a 90/10 co-insurance and has met his deductible what is the total amount the p
a medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her in take of a insoluble fiber to help prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. which of the following foods should the assistant recommend source of insoluble fiber?
A medical assistant is cleaning a examination room after assisting a provider with a biopsy . which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Hold sharps by the blunt end to avoid a needle stick injury
A provider places a open sharps container in the linen hamper by mistake. which of the following is the appropriate action for the medical assistant to take?
Dispose the linen hampers content as a biohazard
a patient calls the clinic to cancel a postoperative appointment and states that she will reschedule to a alter date. for which of the following reasons should the medical assistant document this information on the patients chart?
to prove that the office was not negligent
a medical assistant is entering a new prescription into the patients electronic medical charts (EMR) while entering the prescription an alert notifying the assistant of a medication interaction appear on the screen . which of the following actions should
Consult with the provider before continuing the prescription .
a medical assistant is caring for a child who has varicella zoster virus . the assistant should recognize that varicella is transferred through which of the following modes of transmission ?
which of the following techniques should a assistant use to confirm a patient understanding of insulin administrations ?
Observes patient as she performs self-demonstrations
adolescent is covered by two insurance policies under her divorced parents who have birthdays in may and august and have joint custody . which policy is the primary policy for the adolescent ?
the policy of the parent who has the earliest birth month
which of the following routes of administration should a medical assistant use when performing the tuberculin skin test ?
a medical assistant is preparing to create a report about patients who have family history of breast cancer. which of the following types software will allow the assistant to sort , retrieve, and combine information for this report?
a medical assistant is preparing a patient who had psoriasis to be examined by the provider . when inspecting the patients skin lesion, the assistant should expect to observe which of the following characteristics?
a medical assistant is administering eye ointment to the patient. which of the following actions should the assistant take?
apply a thin ribbon of the ointment along the conjunctival sac
a medical assistant discovers a garbage can fire has started in the break room of the medical office . according to the RACE acronym for emergency response, which of the following actions should the assistant take first?
evacuate staff and patients from the immediate area
a patient requests a female provider to perform her examination due to religious conviction. a female provider is not available. which of the following is the appropriate response by the medical assistant ?
assist the patient in locating a provider to accommodate the patients needs
a medical assistant is reviewing a Medicare claim denial. the assistant determines that there are charges that exceed the usual, customary and reasonable fees. which of the following actions should the assistant take?
adjust the patients account to reflect no unpaid charges and write off the balance.
A medical assistant is caring for a 4-month-old infant who has a temperature of 100.4F. which of the following is this temperature when converted to Celsius?
A medical assistant should use which of the following solutions to prepare a patients skin prior to drawing blood culture's?
which of the following cell structures is the source of energy for a cell?
which of the following items in a medical office are considered administrative office supplies ?
Letterhead, envelopes, and business cards
A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who recently received a terminal diagnoses. The patient states, " I regret not taking better care of myself. Now, I wont be able to accomplish what I wanted to do with my life." The assistant should Identify
When completing documentation in a patients paper medical record, a medical assistant realizes she made an error. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Draw a line through the error and initial it
A medical assistant is measuring the vital signs of an adult patient. The assistant should identify which of the following blood pressure readings as stage 2 hypertension?
A medical assistant is administering an intradermal injection for allergy testing. Which if the following actions should the assistant take?
Locate the area two to three fingers-widths below the antecubital space
A medical assistant is explaining to a female patient how to collect a clean-catch urine specimen. Which of the following instructions should the assistant include?
With the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample
A medical assistant is preparing sterilization for hemostats before invasive procedure . which of the following techniques should the assistant use?
which of the following techniques should a medical assistant use for the routine cleaning of ekg cables ?
When using a centrifuge, and medical assistant must do which of the following to ensure safety and accuracy?
cap the tubes to avoid emission of aerosols
at what times of day will a patients body temperature be at its lowest?
a medical assistant is administering an intramuscular immunization to a patient. which of the following actions should the medical assistant take?
cleanse the site in a circular motion from the center outward
a medical assistant is reinforcing teaching with a patient about pulse oximetry. which of the following statement should the assistant include in the teaching ?
remove your nail polish before the test
a medical assistant is transcribing a prescription for magnesium into a patient medical record. which of the following should the assistant use to document this medication?
a medical assistant is witnessing a patient sign an informed consent form. which of the following is the following is the responsibility of the assistant acting as a witness ?
validate the patient signature
a medical assistant is speaking with a patient who has seasonal allergies . which of the following health care providers should the assistant identify as being able to make a diagnosis the initiate the necessary treatment?
When should the code on glucose cuvettes be compared to the code on the glucometer?
before a patient is tested
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a capillary collection from an older adult patient who has poor circulation in his hands which of the following techniques should the assistant use to increase circulation at the collection site?
A medical assistant is administering heparin subcutaneously to a patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
Inject the medication slowly
A medical assistant receives a chemical splash in her eyes which of the following actions should the assistant take first?
Flush the eyes with tepid water
A medical assistant is testing a patients visual acuity using a Snellen chart. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Make sure the patient does not lean forward during the test.
Which of the following routes for taking a patients temperature is most accurate?
A medical assistant is using a scale with a height bar to measure a patient's height. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Lower the horizontal bar gently so that it rests on the top of the patient's head.
Which of the following pieces of legislation keeps health care staff safe from retaliation by their employers when they report cases of patient neglect and abuse?
Whistleblower Protection Act
A medical assistant receives a telephone call from a patient who is hesitant about discussing a new medical concern unless the conversation is with a provider. The assistant should use which of the following techniques to address the patient's reluctance?
Use a reflective statement to recognize the patient's concerns
Which of the following EKG leads are bipolar?
According to OSHA guidelines for universal precautions which of the following types of patient contact would require a medical assistant to wear gloves, mask, face shield and protective apparel?
Assisting a provider with the removal of a cyst?
When informed consent is required for a procedure, which of the following steps should occur prior to the patient signing the form ?
The provider should review alternative procedures with the patient
Which of the following should a medical assistant identify as the purpose of a Category II code in procedural coding?
Tracks provider performance measures
A patient arrives at a clinic with a bill for x-rays that were required due to an injury at the patients place of employment. The patient has a private insurance and is eligible for worker's compensation. The assistant should recognize that which of the f
Paid in full by workers compensation
A medical assistants preparing a patient who has bilateral below the knee amputations for an EKG. Which of the following sites should the assistant select for the electrode placement?
In which of the following locations should a medical assistant place the electrode for lead V4 ?
The fifth intercostal space, left mid-clavicular line
A medical assistant needs to remove all living micro-organisms from a contaminated towel clamp. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to cleanse the instrument?
A medical assistant is preparing to assist a provider with suturing a wound. Which of the following items should be in the sterile field for this procedure?
A medical assistant is measuring a circumference of an infant's heads which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Place the zero mark of the measuring tape against the infant's forehead
A medical assistant is assisting a provider with an abdominal examination. When the provider palpates the major portion of the liver, the assistant should recognize that he is palpating which of the following abdominal quadrants?
A medical assistant is preparing to administer a liquid or oral medication to a patient. Which of the following methods should the medical assistant use to ensure the correct dose is delivered?
Pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup on a flat surface
A medical assistant is preparing a patient who has intermittent peripheral cyanosis for an examination by the provider. The assistant should understand that healthy perfusion of the hands and feet depends on adequate interaction between which of the follo
Circulatory and respiratory
A medical assistant should follow chain of custody guidelines for which of the following types of laboratory results?
A medical assistant is obtaining a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to ensure an accurate reading?
Place the stethoscope diaphragm over the patient's palpated artery
A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several abrasions on the patients leg. Which of the following supplies should the medical assistant use to remove the medication from the jar?
A medical assistant is performing an ear irrigation for the adult patient who has a cerumen impaction. Which of the following steps should the assistant complete prior to administering the irrigation solution?
Pull the pinna of the ear up and back
Which of the following types of written correspondence can be signed by a medical assistant?
A notification letter to a patient about surgery arrangements
When preparing a patient for holter monitoring. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take?
Vigorously dry the patient's skin prior to electrode placement
A medical assistant is preparing to collect a patient's temperature via the tympanic membrane. In which of the following locations should the assistant place the thermometer?
A medical assistant is reviewing a laboratory requisitions. For which of the following patient conditions should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather than a venipuncture ?
A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient who has cold sores on his lips. The assistant should identify which of the following viruses causes this condition?
Which of the following is a medical assistants role in pulmonary function testing ( PFT) ?
Coach the patient through the test
a medical assistant is disposing of the syringe and needle she used to inject a seasonal influenza vaccine. which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
drop the syringe, the needle first into the bio-hazardous sharps container
a medical assistant is administering an intramuscular injections into the gluteus medius of an adult patient. at which of the following angles should the assistant insert the needle ?
which of the following medical record documentation templates is organized by the entity that supplied the data ?
a clinic schedules all cardiac patient on Monday and Wednesdays and all oncology patients on Tuesday and Thursday . which of the following types of the scheduling is the clinic using ?
the parent of a child who has pediculosis is asking a medical assistant for more information about her child's conditions. the assistant should begin by explaining that pediculosis is which of the following types of infection?
a medical assistant is using a butterfly needle set to obtain in a blood sample from a vein in a patients hand. which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
hold the needle by its wings
a medical assistant is responsible for cleaning the instrument used in a minor surgery. which of the following is the first step in this process?
a medical assistant is transcribing a prescription for a medication that a patient should takes before meals. which of the following abbreviations' should the assistant use to indicate when patient should take medication?
a medical assistant is checking at patient hearing using the weber test. which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
ask the patient if he hears the vibration's louder in one ear than the other
whivh of the following instructions should a medical assistant give to a patient when administering an enteric-coated tablet?
swallow with a glass of water
A medical assistant is collecting a urine specimen from a patient for a drug screening. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to adhere to the chain of custody for this specimen?
Send the specimen to the testing laboratory on the same day as the collection
Which of the following laboratory values should the medical assistant immediately report to the patient provider?
A medical assistant is examining the skin on a patient's forearms where the patient reports a developing rash. The assistant notes multiple solid evaluations that are less than 0.5 (0.2) in diameter. Which of the following terms should be used to document
A medical assistant is explaining a venipuncture procedure to a patient. Which of the following statements should the assistant take?
Ill be collecting a blood sample from you today. There will be a small stick in your arm
A medical assistant is scheduling diagnostic tests for a patient's liver and pancreas which of the following systems is being assessed?
A medical assistanyt receives a denial of payment for a patient's cholecystectomy. The reason states is " non-covered service". If this procedure was deemed emergent by the provider which of the following actions should the assistant take ?
Instruct the p[patient to contact the insurer about the denial of payment
At work a medical assistant cared for a neighbor who has sustained multiple injuries in a fall after work another neighbor asks the assistant what happened to the neighbor who fell. Following the AAMA code of ethics which of the following responses should
I cant share any information about what happens at my job
During a routine venipuncture the patient becomes pale and diaphoretic. What conditions is most likely to occur in this patient?
A medical assistant is reviewing the list of medications a patient reports currently taking. The assistant should recognize that which of the following medications is available in sublingual form?
A medical assistant has a blood pressure cuff inflated and partially opens the valve to deflate as he listens with the stethoscope. When should he read the diastolic pressure?
When the sound disappears
A medical assistant works at an urgent care center that uses open hour scheduling. Which of the following describes this form of scheduling?
The medial assistant drops an instrument on the floor while setting up the sterile tray for procedure. He picks up the instrument and places it back on the sterile field. A few days after the procedure the patient calls the office concerned that the area
A medical assistant is talking with a patient who is experiencing home displacement following a hurricane. To which of the following resources should the assistant refer the patient for information, support, and links to community service?
A medical assistant is discussing information with a patient about a new medication that the provider prescribed. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?
Reinforce teaching about the frequency of medication administration
The primary code in CPT coding system consist of how many digits ?
The parent of a child who has pinworms is asking a medical assistant for more information about his child's condition. The assistant should begin to explain that pinworms are which of the following types of micro-organisms?
A provider prescribes oxycodone for a patient after abdominal surgery. Which of the following describes this type of medication?
Is a schedule II controlled substance and has a high potential for abuse
A medical assistant is preparing a 1g/kg of activated charcoal for a patient who weighs 176 Ibs. How many grams of charcoal should the assistant prepare?
A medical assistant is preparing to calculate a patients heart rate from an EKG tracing. Which of the following methods should the assistant use for this calculation?
Divide 1500 by the number of small boxes between two R waves
Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length of a n infant during a well child visit?
Position the infant on his back
A first time patient is late arriving to the office. Which of the following should the medical assistant take first?
Hello welcome to our office
A medical assistant is assisting a patient who is obese with an insulin injection. Which of the following is the correct angle for the patient's injection?
A medical assistant is writing a piece of professional correspondence to a consulting provider. In which of the following ways should the assistant record the date on the letter?
A medical assistant is performing a review of items in a clinic's inventory. How should the assistant classify dressings and bandages for inventory purposes?