NHA CCMA - 1. Foundations & Basic Science

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What does CCMA stand for?

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

What is the primary role of a medical assistant?

Provide clinical and administrative support under the direction of licensed healthcare professionals.

What is homeostasis?

Maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment.

What is anatomy?

The study of body structures

What is physiology?

The study of how body structures function.

What is pathology?

The study of disease and its effects on the body.

What is a microorganism?

A microscopic organism such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or protozoan

What is a pathogen?

A microorganism capable of causing disease

What is infection?

Invasion and multiplication of pathogens in the body

What are the six links in the chain of infection?

1. Infectious agent

2. Reservoir

3. Portal of exit

4. Mode of transmission

5. Portal of entry

6. Susceptible host

What is a reservoir?

A place where a pathogen normally lives and multiplies

What is a portal of exit?

The route through which a pathogen leaves its reservoir.

What is a portal of entry?

The route through which a pathogen enters a host.

What is asepsis?

The absence or reduction of disease-causing microorganisms.

What is medical asepsis?

Clean technique that reduces the number and spread of microorganisms.

What is surgical asepsis?

Sterile technique designed to eliminate microorganisms from an area of object.

What is disinfection?

Destruction of many or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects, generally not bacterial spores.W

hat is sterilization?

Destruction or removal of all forms of microbial life, including spores.

What is a fomite?

An inanimate object capable of transmitting infection.

What is an opportunistic pathogen?

An organism that causes disease primarily when host defenses are weakened or conditions allow it.

What is inflammation?

A protective response to injury or infection involving immune and vascular reactions.

What are the classic signs of inflammation?

Redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function.

What is an acute condition?

A condition that develops rapidly and usually lasts a relatively short time.

What is a chronic condition?

A condition that persists or progresses over a long period.

What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?

A sign is objectively observed/measured.
A symptom is subjectively reported by the patient.

What is an iatrogenic condition?

A condition resulting from medical examination or treatment.W

What is a nosocomial/healthcare associated infection?

An infection associated with receiving healthcare.

What is the purpose of standard precautions?

To reduce the risk of transmission from recognized and unrecognized sources of infection

When should standard precautions be used?

For all patients, regardless of know infection status.

What is the difference between endemic and epidemic?

Endemic = consistently present in a population/area
Epidemic = Occurrence above the expected level