Medical Assisting Comprehensive Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the provided NHA Medical Assistant lecture notes covering psychology, communication, legal guidelines, clinical procedures, anatomy, pharmacology, infection control, and cardiovascular testing.

Psychology

The study of mind and behavior.

Psychiatrist

A physician (MD) who assesses behavior, prescribes medications, and provides ongoing therapy.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A psychological theory stating that individuals have needs ranging from basic biological and physiological needs at the base to complex self-actualization needs at the top.

Gerontology

The study of aging and the process of physical decline in major body systems.

Therapeutic Communication

Patient-centered communication in which the patient is treated and respected as a whole person.

Active Listening

Mindfully hearing and attempting to comprehend the meaning of spoken words.

Chief Complaint (CC)

The primary reason or symptom for which a patient is seeking medical help.

SOAP Notes

An acronym and documentation format standing for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.

Advance Directives

Legal documents that state a patient's wishes for medical decisions in the event that they become incapable of making decisions.

Living Will

A legal document specifying the medical means to sustain a patient's life in case of a terminal condition.

Durable Power of Attorney

A legal document identifying an appointed individual authorized to act on the patient's behalf regarding medical or financial decisions if the patient becomes incapacitated.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; a federal law that protects patient health information (PHI) from being disclosed without consent or knowledge.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration; a agency within the Department of Labor created to set workplace standards, prevent injuries, and protect workers.

Malpractice

Professional negligence that occurs when a healthcare worker unintentionally harms a patient as a result of not following their scope of practice.

Tort

A civil case in which a person is harmed because of another person's actions or failure to act.

Source Oriented Medical Record (SOMR)

A medical chart structure divided into distinct sections, such as one section for progress notes and another section for diagnostic reports.

Problem Oriented Medical Record (POMR)

A medical record structure that lists patient problems at the front of the chart, with the number and problem noted after each encounter.

Upcoding

The practice of using a CPT code on an insurance claim indicating a higher level of service or more complex diagnosis than was provided.

Deductible

An amount of money a patient must pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services before the insurance carrier begins paying benefits.

Copay

A specified sum of money based on the patient's insurance policy benefits due at the time of medical service.

ICD-10-CM

A 3-to-7 character code set used to classify diagnoses, where each additional character after the decimal point provides greater specificity.

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)

A standardized set of five-digit codes developed by the AMA to identify medical, surgical, or diagnostic procedures and services.

Periosteum

A thin, transparent outer layer of bone that serves as a site for muscle attachment.

Medical Asepsis

The practice of destroying infectious agents outside the body to prevent the spread of disease (also known as clean technique).

Surgical Asepsis

The practice of removing all infectious pathogens and living organisms, including bacterial spores, from equipment used in invasive procedures.

Pyrexia

Fever, or elevated body temperature, which is the body's natural defense mechanism against invasive organisms.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Formula

A calculation used to estimate body fat content, defined by $\text{BMI} = \frac{\text{weight in kg}}{(\text{height in m})^2}$.

Orthopnea

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing that occurs when a patient is lying down flat.

Snellen Eye Chart

A chart used to measure visual acuity at a distance, with results recorded as a fraction such as $20/20$ or $20/80$.

Syncope

Fainting; a temporary partial or full loss of consciousness caused by decreased blood flow to the brain.

Z-track Method

A specific intramuscular injection technique where the skin is pulled to one side before injection to prevent medication from seeping into subcutaneous tissue.

Anaphylaxis

The most severe form of an allergic reaction that occurs rapidly following exposure to a medication or allergen.

MyPlate

A USDA nutritional guidelines icon illustrating the five essential food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

A noninvasive diagnostic test that records the electrical activity of the heart over time.

P Wave

The waveform on an ECG strip representing right and left atrial contraction and depolarization.

QRS Complex

The waveform on an ECG strip representing contraction and depolarization of the ventricles.

T Wave

The waveform on an ECG strip representing relaxation and repolarization of the ventricles.

ST Elevation and ST Depression

Significant ECG waveform alterations that indicate myocardial infarction (a life-threatening blockage in the coronary arteries).

E-prescribing

The process of electronically transmitting prescription information directly from a healthcare provider to a pharmacy.

Schedule I Controlled Substances

Substances classified by the DEA as having a high potential for abuse and addiction with no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD).