West-MEC Medical Assisting TSA

What is the medical assistant's primary responsibility when setting up an exam room?

Stocking the room

What action should be taken with used instruments at the end of the day?

Clean the instruments

How often is a medical assistant required to change the exam table paper?

After every pt

Which process is used to ensure that all exam room equipment is functional?

Calibration

Where should supplies be kept within the exam room for accessibility?

On the counter top

How should a medical assistant dispose of expired supplies?

Trash can

Which type of insurance is appropriate for injuries sustained while on the job?

Worker's Compensation

Which fee schedule serves as the base for health insurance plans to determine their own fees?

Medicare

Which manual is utilized specifically to code a medical diagnosis?

ICD (International Classification of Disease)

Which manual is utilized specifically to code a patient's office visit?

CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)

Prefix

An element placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning.

Suffix

A morpheme added to the end of a word to form a derivative.

What is the common medical term for a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)?

Stroke

What is the best way to communicate with a patient who is hearing-impaired?

Write questions on paper

Which specific skill must a medical assistant use when a patient is describing their chief complaint?

Active listening skills

What technique is recommended for medical assistants to use when answering the telephone?

Smile

What piece of information is necessary when registering a new patient?

Insurance card information

What is one way to verify a patient's identity when they arrive at the medical office?

Insurance Card

Why are specific passwords assigned to each individual worker on office computers?

To maintain HIPAA compliance

What is the primary clinical use for an Electronic Medical Record (EMR)?

Entering vital signs

What is the most important piece of information to include on a patient's appointment card?

Appointment Date

What term describes information that is based on or influenced by personal feelings?

Subjective

What term describes record keeping that follows the order in which events occurred, starting with the earliest?

Chronological

What do the letters in the record-keeping format 'SOAP' represent?

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan

Which of the following is NOT one of the '6 C's' of charting: clarity, conciseness, completeness, or congenital?

Congenital

In which section of the patient's chart are past allergies recorded?

Medical History

Which specific piece of personal information is used to verify a patient's identity?

DOB (Date of Birth)

Which scheduling method allows for more than one patient to be scheduled in the same time slot?

Double booking

What is the correct procedure for handling a patient's lab reports when sorting mail?

Give reports to physician

Which patient symptom constitutes the highest priority call for triage?

Shortness of Breath (SOB)

What is the term for an insurance company determining payment for a procedure before it is performed?

Preauthorization

Which piece of clinical information is required on a patient referral form?

Diagnosis

What is a standard administrative task a patient must complete during check-out?

Schedule a follow-up

Which computer application is essential for a medical assistant to know how to use for patient records?

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Which of the following is NOT one of the rights of drug administration: right dosage, right time, right reason, or right physician?

Right Physician

What does the acronym CLIA stand for?

Clinical Lab Improvement Amendments

What must a patient be able to do to prove they comprehend medical instructions?

Repeat instructions back to the assistant

Where is the ground electrode placed on a standard 12-lead EKG?

Right Leg

What is the required distance an adult must stand from a Snellen chart for a visual acuity test?

20 feet

What is the correct way to move an adult's ear when performing an ear lavage?

Pull up and back on top of the ear

According to the assessment, which of the following is NOT a common symptom of a stroke: blurred vision, slurred speech, left arm tingling, or lightheadedness?

Lightheadedness

Identify three common symptoms of a stroke mentioned in medical assistant training.

Blurred vision, slurred speech, & arm tingling

What is the most important factor for a medical assistant to ensure when preparing the back office for patients?

All equipment is functional and rooms are stocked

What is the term for a discount or refund applied to an account?

Adjustment

Which symptom describes the medical condition of polyarthralgia?

Aches/pains in multiple joints

Which screening tool should be used when a patient complains of a headache?

Pain Scale

In what type of document is a patient's office visit found?

SOAP

What is the normal range for an adult pulse?

60-100 BPM

Which vaccine guards against chickenpox?

Varicella

How long can a urine specimen sit on the counter before it needs to be refrigerated?

60 minutes

Which of the 'six Cs' of charting is identified as a key component in medical assisting?

Confidentiality

Which form describes the protocol to be used in case of a chemical spill?

SDS (Safety Data Sheet)

Which legal document must be obtained from the patient prior to a procedure?

Informed Consent

In addition to the finger, what is an alternate location for performing pulse oximetry?

Toe

What is the largest organ in the human body?

Skin

What does the medical term "lateral" refer to?

The side

What is the name of the male sterilization procedure that involves cutting a part of the body?

Vasectomy

What is the meaning of the medical combining form lith/o?

Stone

What is the meaning of the medical combining form hydr/o?

Fluid

What should a medical assistant offer to a patient placed in the knee-chest position?

A Pillow

In an EKG, what time duration is measured by a 5 times 5 mm square?

0.20 seconds

In which section of a SOAP note should a patient's chief complaint, such as stomach pain, be documented?

Subjective

Which color of wound exudate is considered abnormal?

Green

According to the FIFO (first in, first out) principle, which inventory items should be used first?

Oldest items

What is meant by a patient making an "uncoerced" healthcare decision?

The patient has autonomy to choose what they think is best without being pressured or forced.

What is the appropriate time frame for removing sutures from the arms and legs?

7-10 days

Which phase of the cardiac cycle produces the greatest amount of pressure?

Systolic

To maintain the accuracy of medical equipment, what action must a medical assistant avoid?

Using faulty equipment

When a new patient discusses treatment for breast cancer, what action should the medical assistant avoid?

Sharing similar personal experience

What is the first step a medical assistant should take before removing medication from a secured area?

Verify name of drug

What is the first task an MA should perform when preparing a patient for a gynecological (GYN) exam?

Check that pap tray is complete

What is the primary function of the integumentary system?

Protection

What is considered the best method for determining the quality of sterilization?

Biological Indicators

Which action helps a patient diagnosed with a terminal illness deal with their situation?

Coping skills

Which type of information is unnecessary when completing a follow-up appointment?

Financial information

How often should the temperature of the medical office refrigerator be checked?

Daily

Which component of a patient's medical record is a medical assistant NOT permitted to sign or initial?

Diagnosis

What do each one of these represent: P Wave, QRS Wave, and T Wave?

P Wave: atrial depolarization, QRS Wave: ventricular depolarization, T Wave: repolarization.

What type of water would you use with the autoclave and why?

Distilled water, its weight, has the least amount of constituents in it.

What are the characteristics of Glaucoma?

Intraocular pressure

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

What is Worker's Compensation?

Insurance that provides cash benefits and/or medical care for workers who are injured or become ill as a direct result of their job.

How long would an office be required to keep medical records for?

7 years after pt turns 18 y/o

What is the landmark to measure an infant's chest circumference?

The nipple line

What is sickle cell anemia and which ethnic group does it primarily affect?

Inherited blood disorder marked by defective hemoglobin that gives RBCs a crescent shape; it mainly affects African Americans.

The 6 C's of Charting

Client's Words, Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Chronological Order, Confidentiality

What does SDS stand for and what is it?

Safety Data Sheet; includes information such as chemical properties, hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions for handling chemicals.

What needle gauge range and length would you use for an infant, an adult, and an obese adult?

Infant: 23-25g 3/8 to 5/8 inch

Adult: 18-23g 1-3 inch

Obese adult: longer needle.

What is the function of the urethra?

To push urine out of the body through the urinary meatus

5 stages of grief in order

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

How many bones are in an adult body?

206

What is the structure of the urinary system?

2 kidneys, 2 ureters, bladder, and urethra

Which vaccines are given IM (intramuscular)?

DTaP, DT, Hib, hepA, hepB, HPV, IIV, MCV, PCV, rabies, Td, Tdap, RZV (Shingrix), and sometimes IPV or PPSV

What is the difference between an implied consent and informed consent?

Implied consent is informal (e.g., extending an arm), while informed consent is a legal, written term requiring the individual to be competent and understand the procedure.

4 D's of a malpractice lawsuit

Duty, Dereliction, Direct Cause, & Damages

The pancreas is an endocrine and exocrine gland; how does it work in both?

Exocrine: produces enzymes to digest food/protein

Endocrine: makes the hormone insulin to control blood sugar levels.

What is the proper pressure and temperature for sterilizing instruments?

250*F, 15 pounds per square inch.

What is the required distance for the Snellen Eye Exam?

20 feet

What is the purpose of draping a pt?

Privacy

What is polycythmia?

A blood disorder occurring when there are too many RBCs, which carry oxygen from the lungs through the blood stream to the rest of the body.