BETTER CCMA Practice Test

The laboratory report on a patient indicates a hemoglobin level of 7g/dL. Which of the following is the first action for the medical assistant to to take?

Notify the provider

Inform the patient

Record the results in the medical record

Repeat the test to ensure accuracy

Notify the provider (Because these results are critically low level of hemoglobin, the assistant should notify the provider. Normal range is 13.5-17.5g/dL for men 12.0-15.5 gdL for women.)

A medical assistant is preparing a patient to have cryosurgery following an abnormal Papanicolaou test. Which of the following statements should the assistant make to explain the procedure?

"Cryosurgery is a laser surgery that kills the abnormal cells."

"Cryosurgery involves a probe that cauterizes and kills abnormal cells."

"Cryosurgery involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells."

"Cryosurgery is a procedure performed with a scalpel to cut out abnormal cells."

"Cryosurgery involves an extremely cold probe to freeze and kill abnormal cells."

Which of the following dressings should a medical assistant use on a partial-thickness burn?

Skin closure application

Non-adherent dressing

Lubricated mesh gauze

sterile gauze dressing

Nonadherent dressing (The assistant should use a nonadherent dressing on a partial-thickness burn This type of dressing allows the wound to be exposed to air and heal.)

Which of the following positions is appropriate for a pelvic examination?

Lithotomy

Prone

Supine

High-Fowler's

Lithotomy

A medical assistant receives a call from a patient requesting a refill for fentanyl patches for chronic pain. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Call the prescription in to the patient's pharmacy.

Tell the patient to schedule an office visit.

Fax the prescription to the patient's pharmacy

Refer the patient's request to the provider.

Refer the patient's request to the provider.

A medical assistant is preparing to create a report about patients who have a family history of breast cancer. Which of the following types of software will allow the assistant to sort, retrieve, and combine information for this report?

Database management

Accounting and billing

appointment scheduling

word processor

database management

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?

Tell the patient he has nothing to worry about.

ask the patient why he does not trust the assistant with the information.

use a reflective statement to recognize the patients concerns.

provide examples of patients who have similar concerns to reassure the patient.

Use a reflective statement to recognize the patient's concerns.

Which of the following items in a medical office are considered administrative office supplies?

Computers, telephones, and chairs

letterhead, envelopes, and business cards

examination table paper, stethoscopes, and otoscopes

file cabinets, storage bins, and shelves for records

letterhead, envelopes, and business cards

Which of the following laboratory results should the medical assistant recognize is abnormal?

Sodium 138 mEq/L

Red blood cell count 5.2/mm3

Platelets 350/mm3

Potassium 3 mEq/L

Potassium 3mEq/L

(Sodium normal range 135-145 mEq/L.

RBC normal range male 4.7-6.1/mm3 female 4.2-5.4/mm3.

Platelets normal range 130-400/mm3)

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?

Airborne

Bloodborne

Vector-borne

Foodborne

Airborne (Varicella Zoster Virus is chickenpox)

A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory results that confirm a patient has varicella zoster virus. The assistant should identify that this micro-organism causes which of the following infections?

Mumps

Measles

Rubella

Chickenpox

Chickenpox

A medical assistant is caring for an infant who suddenly becomes unresponsive for unknown reasons. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Check for a foreign object in the mouth with a blind finger sweep

perform abdominal thrusts

initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation

perform five back blows

Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation

A patient who has a vulvovaginal candidiasis asks a medical assistant for more information about her infection. The assistant should begin by explaining that candidiasis is which of the following types of infections.

Fungal

Bacterial

Protozoan

Helminthic

Fungal

A medical assistant is reviewing laboratory requisitions. For which of the following patient conditions should the assistant perform a capillary collection rather than a venipuncture?

Edema in the fingers

HIV-Positive

Previous Thromboses

Hypothyroidism

Previous thromboses

A medical assistant is talking with an older patient who has experienced several injuries at home over the past 6 months. The patient lives alone and has no family nearby. Which of the following responses should the assistant make to help ease that patient's transition to assisted living or long-term care?

"Why wouldn't you want to be around others like yourself, even if only for the social benefits?"

"It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be at home alone. Let's talk about other options."

"If i were you, I'd tell your family they have to move to this area to help you at home."

"I'm going to call your daughter and tell her about some of the difficulties you are having."

"It seems like it is no longer safe for you to be at home alone. Let's talk about other options."

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for an enema. In which of the following positions should the assistant place the patient for this procedure?

Fowler's position

Semi-Fowler's position

Sims' Position

Lithotomy position

Sims' position

A medical assistant must invert anticoagulant tubes to prevent which of the following?

Hemolysis

Clotting

Hemooncentration

Refulux

Clotting

A medical assistant is checking a patient's hearing using the Weber test. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Position a vibrating tuning fork over the patient's mastoid process

invert a vibrating tuning fork while the patient still hears sound

Instruct the patient to raise his hand when he no longer hears any sound

ask the patient if he hears the vibration louder in one ear or the other.

Ask the patient if he hears the vibration louder in one ear or than the other

A medical assistant is collecting data from a patient who has cold sores on his lips. The assistant should identify that which of the following viruses causes this condition?

Influenza A

Herpes simplex type 1

Epstein-Barr

Rhabdovirus

Herpes simplex type 1

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?

Place the removable lid of the specimen container face down on a clean surface.

Clean the perineal area from back to from with three antiseptic towelettes.

With the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collection the samples.

To collect the urine, press the specimen container's edges up against the perineum

With the labia spread, urinate a small amount into the toilet before collecting the sample.

A primary care provider suspects that a patient has fibromyalgia. A medical assistant should expect the provider to refer the patient to which of the following specialists?

Gynecologist

Opthalmologist

Gastroenterologist

Rheumatologist

Rheumatologist

Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when obtaining the length of an infant during a well-child visit?

Remove the infant's diaber

Wrap the infant in a blanket for warmth

position the infant on his back

keep the infants knees flexed

position the infant on his back

A medical assistant is preparing to dispose of bandages that have been removed from a patient's open wound. Per OSHA guidelines, which of the following actions should the assistant plan to take?

Place the bandages in a sharps container

place the bandages in a red biohazard bag

double bag the bandages in a red biohazard bag

disinfect the bandages and place them in a red biohazard bag.

Place the bandages in a red biohazard bag

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is experiencing chills, nausea, and dizziness. The patient's face appears pale. The assistant should recognize that the patient is exhibiting manifestations of which of the following medical emergencies?

Seizure

Transient ischemic attack

syncope

myocardial infarction

Syncope (The assistant should recognize that syncope is usually caused by a sudden loss of blood flow to the brain. The patient can experience chills, nausea, dizziness, and numbness in the extremities. A pale appearance is also a common manifestation.)

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 a $20 copayment, a 90/10 coinsurance, and has met his deductible. What is the total amount the patient will pay for the provider for this procedure?

$20

$30

$40

$50

$40

A medical assistant is scheduling diagnostic tests for a patient's liver and pancreas. Which of the following systems is being assessed?

Cardiovascular

Integumentary

Respiratory

Digestive

Digestive

A medical assistant has just received a derogatory e-mail from a dissatisfied patient. What action should the assistant take?

Respond immediately with a request for a more polite message.

Print a cope of the email and forward it to the provider.

Print the email and make notes about topics to be addressed prior to formulating a response

Forward the email to another medical assistant to review and provide a response to the patient

Print the email and make notes about topics to be addressed prior to formulating a response

A medical assist is performing and EKG on a patient. Which of the following describes the appropriate placement of the electrodes?

Tabs downward on the arm

Tabs downward on the knee

tabs upward on the chest

tabs downward on the lower leg

Tabs downward on the arm

Which of the following routes of administration should a medical assistant use when performing a tuberculin skin test?

intramuscular

intradermal

intravenous

subcutaneous

intrademral

A medical assistant is entering patient data into an electronic medical record (EMR) system. Which of the following information should be entered into the patient demographics section of the EMR?

Allergies

Chief complaint

occupation

surgical history

Occupation

A medical assistant is administering an injection, and the patient faints. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Elevate the patient's head above his heart.

Apply a warm compress to the patients neck

offer the patient something to drink

place the patient in a supite position

Place the patient in a supine position

A medical assistant is testing a patients visual acuity using a snellen chart. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Position the patient 40 feet from the chart

make sure the patient does not lean forward during the test

have the patient close her left eye behind an occluder when testing the right eye

ask the patient to read the smallest line first and then proceed to the largest

Make sure the patient does not lean forward during the test

At work, a medical assistant cared for a neighbor who 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 the assistant make?

"She broke a couple of bones, but she'll be fine. "

"it was nothing serious, you'll see her soon enough."

"we'll see her every week or so during her recovery."

"I cannot share any information about what happens at my job."

"I cannot share any information about what happens at my job."

A medical assistant notices that the medical office is not providing PPE for staff. Which of the following regulatory agencies should the assistant contact?

OSHA

CLIA

The Joint Commission

Department of Health and Human Services

OSHA

Which of the following parenteral medication routes should a medical assistant administer for a slow release of medication into the blood stream?

Transdermal

Sublingual

Buccual

Inhalation

Transdermal

When completing documentation in a patient's paper medical record, a medical assistant realizes she made an error. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Leave the error in the medical record

draw a line through the error and initial it

erase the entry in the medical record

use correction fluid to correc the entry

draw a line through the error and initial it

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who weighs 72 kg. What is this patient who weighs 72 kg. What is the patients weight in lb?

158.4lb

A provider examines an older adult patient who is disabled and has a lesion on her arm. A medical assistant should anticipate a referral for this patient to which of the following ancillary services?

Diagnostic Services

Home health care

Rehabilitation services

hospice care

Home Health Care

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

swab fluids from the biopsy site

retract the edges of the biopsy site

place sutures at the incision site

Receive and prepare tissue specimens for processing

A medical assistant is collecting vital signs from a 6 y/o child. The assistant should recognize that which of the following vital signs is outside of the expected reference range for this patient and should be reported to the provider?

respiratory rate of 22/min

heart rate 140/min

BP of 110/72 mm Hg

Temperature of 37 degrees celcius

Heart rate 140/min

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who is 5'7'' tall. Which of the following is the patient's height in centimeters?

170 cm

145 cm

114 cm

26 cm

170 cm

While measuring a patient's pulse, the medical assistant should recognize that which of the following patient factors can contribute to an erroneous pulse rate?

Movement

Weight

BP

Hydration

Movement

A clinic schedules all cardiac patients on Mondays and Wednesdays and all oncology patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays . Which of the following types of scheduling is the clinic using?

Stream

Cluster

Wave

Modified Wave

Cluster

A medical assistant is coding an office visit during which the provider reviewed the systems related to a patient's chief complaint but did not discuss the patient's family or social history. Which of the following procedure codes should the assistant use for this visit?

Detailed

Comprehensive

Problem-focused

expanded problem-focused

expanded problem-focused

A medical assistant is encouraging a patient to increase her intake of insoluble fiber to help prevent constipation of hemorrhoids. Which of the following foods should the assistant recommend as the best source of insoluble fiber?

Cooked white rice

Pears with skin

Strawberries

Popcorn

Pears with skin

For a 12-Lead EKG, which of the following is the correct placement forhe v4 electrode?

5th intercostal space midclavicular line

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?

Right upper

right lower

left upper

left lower

right upper

A medication container states there is 250 mg of medication in each scored tablet. the provider orders 375 mg. How many tablets should the assistant give to the patient

1.5 tablets

a medical assistant is collecting blood samples to measure a patients cholesterol levels. Which of the following actions should the assistant take before collecting the patients blood.

Plan to collect the specimen in the late morning.

Make sure the patient did not eat any food for the past 12 hr.

Ask the patient f he has taken any medications that day.

Ensure that the patient did not drink any water for the past 12 hr.

Make sure the patient did not eat any food for the past 12 hrs.

A medical assistant is assisting a provider with the repair of a laceration on the patient's head. The provider's prescription for the procedure includes an injection of 10 mL of lidocaine with epinephrine. The assistant should recognize that which of the following is the purpose of epinephrine in the local anesthetic?

To reduce bleeding at the site

to reduce the patient's blood pressure

to prevent an allergic reaction to the lidocaine

to decrease the liklihood of infection.

To reduce bleeding at the site (The assistant should recognize that epinephrine is a vasoconstrictor. Its inclusion in the anesthetic reduces bleeding and prolongs the anesthetics effects. Reducing the bleeding makes it easier for the provider to see the laceration during the repair.)

Which of the following cell structures is instrumental in helping the body mobilize and secrete mucus from the respiratory tract?

Centrioles

Cilia

Ribosomes

Mitochondria

Cilia

Which of the following documents indicates how a patient's medical records will be used and disclosed by a medical office?

Explanation of benefits (EOB)

Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)

Assignment of Benefits

Notice of Privacy Practices (An NPP details how a patient's medical records will be used and disclosed by a medical office.)

A medical assistant is classifying services that a patient requires. The assistant should identify which of the following as an ancillary diagnostic service?

Cardiology

Pathology

Oncology

Gerontology

Pathology

A medical assistant in an emergency clinic is admitting several patients. The assistant should recognize that the provider should see which of the following patients first?

An adult who is a professional runner and has a heart rate of 50/min

An older adult patient who has diabetes and has a blood pressure of 80/42 mm Hg

An infant who is bottle fed and has a heart rate of 130/min

An adolescent who is a gymnast and has a blood pressure of 108/64 mm Hg

An older adult patient who has diabetes and has a blood pressure of 80/42 mm Hg

A medical assistant is contracting a patient who 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?

Engaging in intercourse 48 hr prior to the test

Douching 1 week prior to the test

Using an over-the-counter vaginal cream prior to the test

Taking prescribed oral birth control pills.

Using an over-the-counter vaginal cream prior to the test

A medical assistant requests that a patient pay her insurance co-payment at the time she arrives for her appointment. The patient becomes defensive and asks why she should pay for care she has not yet received. Which of the following responses should the medical assistant make?

"Didn't you expect to have to pay for your visit when you came?"

"Why wouldn't you want to pay now rather than later?"

"Unless you have paid your co-payment, the doctor will not see you."

"I understand you're concerned, so you're welcome to pay at the end of your appointment."

"I understand you're concerned, so you're welcome to pay at the end of your appointment."

Which of the following terms refers to the range of fees charged by providers who have similar training and experience and practice in the same geographical area?

Ususal

Reasonable

Cutomary

Capitation

Customary

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 services?

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

American Red Cross

National Council on Aging

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Red Cross

A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's recent medical history and notes that she has a healing fracture on the distal femur. Where on the patient's body should the assistant expect to find the injury?

Just above the knee

A patient is seen in an 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 a medical assistant use for the procedural coding for this visit?

Problem-Focused Examination

Expanded problem-focused examination

Detailed Examination

Comprehensive examination

Problem-focused examination

A medical assistant is collection a health history from an older adult patient who exhibits moderate hearing loss. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Keep her hands still to avoid distracting the patient.

Speak with a raised pitch when clarifying information

Use longer sentences to keep the patients attention

Remain within the patients view to allow lip-reading

Remain withing the patient's view to allow lip-reading

A medical assistant receives a denial of payment for a patient's cholecystectomy. The reason states is 'noncovered service." If this procedure was deemed emergent by the provider, which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Submit an appeal for the denied claim

Submit a new claim

resubmit the claim with a different procedural code

Instruct the patient to contact the insurer about the denial of payment

Instruct the patient to contact the insurer about the denial of payment

A medical assistant is cleaning countertops and other surfaces after a surgical procedure in a provider's office. Which of the following disinfectants should the assistant use for this purpose?

a 1:10 bleach and water solution

Benzalkonium Chloride Solution

Chlorhexidine

Alcohol

a 1:10 bleach and water solution

A medical assistant is collecting information from a patient who reports persistent pain in the upper left quadrant. The assistant sholld note that this area contains which of the following organs?

Cecum

Stomach

Appendix

Gallbladder

Stomach

A patient reports feeling depressed due to the recent loss of a partner. In which of the five stages of the grief process does depression present itself?

First

Second

Third

Fourth

4th

A medical assistant is caring for a patient who has recently received a terminal diagnosis and is crying. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Ask the patient why he is crying

Tell the patient there is no reason to cry

Tell the provider immediately

Allow the patient to cry

Allow the patient to cry

A medical assistant is preparing to administer a liquid, oral medication to a patient. Which of the following methods should the assistant use to ensure the correct dose is delivered?

Pour the medication to the prescribed dose in the medicine cup on a flat