CMA- Module 1- Ch 1

In what type of health-care settings do most medical assistants work?

Ambulatory care or outpatient health-care facilities.

What are the three main areas of medical assisting?

General, administrative, and clinical.

What do general medical-assisting skills include?

Psychology, communication, professionalism, medical law and ethics, risk management, quality assurance, safety, and medical terminology.

Which tasks are examples of administrative skills?

Medical reception, patient advocacy, business practices, establishing medical records, scheduling appointments, and managing finances.

What areas are covered by clinical skills?

Anatomy & physiology, infection control, patient intake and documentation, patient preparation and assisting the provider, nutrition, specimen collection, diagnostic testing, pharmacology, and emergency management/basic first aid.

List key professional behaviors for a medical assistant.

Accuracy, adaptability, courteousness, confidence, dependability, empathy, honesty, initiative, patience, punctuality, respect, tact, and teamwork.

Name the three main practice ownership models in which MAs may work.

Solo practice, partnership, and multi-provider clinic.

What are other common medical-assistant work environments?

Urgent-care centers and patient-centered medical-home (PCMH) models.

Why is the job outlook for medical assistants so promising?

Because of their versatility and the aging population; the field is expected to grow 23 percent through 2028.

Which organization offers the CMA (AAMA) credential?

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

How often must CMA (AAMA) certificants recertify?

Every five years.

Who is considered the father of medicine?

Hippocrates.

What is Hippocrates best known for?

The Hippocratic Oath—a code of medical ethics and behavior.

What major change did Hippocrates bring to medicine?

He shifted medicine from priestly traditions to scientific study, teaching that illness was not punishment for sins.

What is complementary alternative medicine (CAM)?

Treatments that supplement conventional medicine and consider the whole person and lifestyle.

Give examples of CAM therapies.

Acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, tai chi, massage, homeopathy, magnet therapy, naturopathy, visualization, and faith healing.

Define a health-care provider.

A licensed individual—or organization such as a hospital or clinic—authorized to examine, diagnose, and prescribe treatment.

Outline the basic education path for a physician.

Four-year undergraduate degree + four years of medical school + three-to-eight years of internship/residency.

What is reciprocity in medical licensure?

When one state recognizes another state’s licensing requirements as equivalent or more stringent.

What is the difference between MD and DO?

Both are licensed physicians; MD = Doctor of Medicine, DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

What is a general or family-practice physician?

A doctor who treats all types of patients and health problems.

Why do physicians specialize?

Because advances in medicine make it impossible to master every area.

Name several physician specialties.

Allergy, dermatology, endocrinology, gynecology, neurology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, psychiatry, psychology, and nuclear medicine.

Which health professionals hold doctorate degrees but are not physicians?

Chiropractor (DC), dentist (DDS/DMD), optometrist (OD), podiatrist (DPM), and psychologist (PhD).

Who are considered midlevel practitioners?

Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA).

What can midlevel practitioners do?

Examine patients, order diagnostic tests, and prescribe certain medications under supervision or autonomously (depending on state law).

What are the education and licensing requirements for an RN?

Complete an approved nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and hold state licensure.

What is a nurse anesthetist?

An RN certified to administer anesthesia.

What is a nurse midwife?

An RN with advanced training and experience in labor and delivery.

What is an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)?

A licensed practical nurse trained in basic nursing techniques and direct patient care under supervision.

Identify five other health-care team roles.

Phlebotomist, radiologic technologist, pharmacy technician, occupational therapist, and respiratory therapist.

What three elements must a medical assistant develop to be successful?

Knowledge base, skills, and professional behaviors.

What does “scope of practice” mean for medical assistants?

The legal boundaries of duties they are trained and authorized to perform.