Clinical Practice Test

Which of the following statements describes a patient-centered medical home (PCMH)?

It is a care delivery model supported by an interdisciplinary team and led by a primary care provider (PCP)

Which of the following is an impact of patient portals?

Increased transparency

Which of the following is a component of the Quadruple Aim, which drives value-based care?

Improved patient outcomes

To which of the following allied health professionals should a medical assistant initiate a referral to for a provider who has ordered support to assist with improving a patient’s range of motion?

Physical therapist

Which of the following responsibilities is appropriate for a medical assistant who works in an administrative capacity?

Collecting copays

Which of the following medication classifications should be used for a patient who is experiencing seasonal allergies?

Antihistamines

Which of the following schedules of controlled medications can be prescribed with up to a year’s worth of refills, if authorized by the provider?

Schedule V

A patient has chronic kidney disease is being directed to avoid ibuprofen due to the strain it puts on the kidneys. This is an example of which of the following?

Contraindication

Which of the following actions of pharmacokinetics is most impacted by age?

Metabolism

Which of the following actions describes the medical assistant’s role in confirming “the right medication,” in terms of medication administration?

Stating the name of the medication, who ordered it, and the intended effect of the medication

Albuterol (Proventil HFA) is an example of which of the following medication classifications?

Bronchodilator

A patient calls in with a question about one of their medications but does not remember the name of the medication and states, “It’s a small, oval-shaped pink pill.” The patient’s medical record indication. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Consult the Physicians’ Desk Reference for clarification

Which of the following is an example of a simple carbohydrate?

Honey

Which of the following is the first step a patient who has stage I chronic kidney disease should take to adapt their diet?

Limit sodium

Which of the following supplements is also a naturally occurring hormone in the brain that is related to sleep?

Melatonin

Which of the following is a warning sign for anorexia and should be reported to a provider immediately?

Excessive exercising

Which of the following routes of medication administration is a parenteral route?

Subcutaneously

Which of the following forms of medication are delivered orally?

Lozenges

A pediatrician prescribes a medication for a 5-year-old child, with the dosage listed as “X mg/kg/day, divided over 3 doses a day.” Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to determine how much medication the child should receive per dose?

Convert the child’s weight to kilograms

How often should medication allergies be discussed with a patient?

At every vistit

Which of the following abbreviations is used to indicate a heart attack?

MI

According to The Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” list, which of the following should never be abbreviated?

Medication names

Which of the following does the root word dermat refer to?

Skin

Which of the following diseases is a patient referring to if they say “Lou Gehrig’s disease”?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Which of the following describes the position of the head to the chest when a person is in the anatomical position?

Superior

Which of the following is a common symptom of depression?

Feelings of hopelessness

Which of the following is an example of a physical stressor on the body?

Pollution in the air

Which of the following is a helpful accommodation for a patient who has partial vision loss?

Large print materials

Which of the following defense mechanisms is a patient engaging in if they state, “The lab must have mixed up the samples. I don’t have diabetes.”?

Denial

A patient is told their kidney disease has progressed to the point of dialysis. Which of the following stages of grief is the patient experiencing if they are beginning to explore dietary changes?

Bargaining

Which of the following mental health conditions tends to present as hyperactivity in young males?

ADHD

In which of the following stages of development is the goal to achieve a balance between concern for the next generation and being self-absorbed?

Generativity vs. stagnation

Which of the following body cavities travels down the midline of the back?

Spinal cavity

Which of the following is a bone of the lower extremities?

Metatarsals

Which of the following describes the body’s systems and biological processes to maintain stability?

Homeostasis

Which of the following is an autoimmune disorder leading to changes in the connective tissues of the body, especially the joints?

Rheumatoid arthritis

Which of the following is a symptoms of shingles?

Blistering rash

Which of the following can be diagnosed during a colonoscopy?

Diverticulosis

For which of the following is a history of inflammatory bowel disease a risk factor?

Colorectal cancer

Which of the following describes an illness constantly present in a community?

Epidemic

A patient enters the office and lets a medical assistant know the handrail outside the office door is loose. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Thank the patient and let the supervisor know immediately so it can be fixed

A patient who had a stroke has left-sided weakness and uses a cane to ambulate. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take to ensure the patient’s safety?

Assist the patient onto the examination table

A patient states they have smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for the past 20 years. In which section of the patient’s medical record should the medical assistant document this information?

Social history

A medical assistant enters a patient’s examination room to administer a pneumococcal vaccination. Which of the following identifiers should the assistant use to verify the patient?

Name and date of birth

Which of the following is found in the demographic section of a patient’s medical record and needs verification at the beginning of each visit?

Address

A patient states, “It burns when I urinate,” when asked the reason for their visit. In which of the following sections of the patient’s medical record should the medical assistant document this information?

Chief complaint

A 21-year-old patient arrives at the office and reports lower abdominal pain. During the patient interview process, the patient seems to have difficulty concentrating and appears to have a sense of panic. Which of the following should the medical assistant identify as a potential cause of their behavior?

Anxiety

A patient states they work in construction and that their primary job is breaking up concrete with jack hammers. In which of the following sections of the patient’s medical record should the medical assistant document this information?

Occupational history

A patient’s blood pressure is 136/84 mm Hg. The medical assistant should identify that this blood pressure reading falls into which of the following categories?

Prehypertension

A stethoscope is typically placed over which of the following arteries when blood pressure is auscultated?

Brachial

A 64-year-old patient arrives at the office and reports frequent dizzy spells. After completing routine vital signs, which of the following actions should the medical assistant take next?

Perform orthostatic vital signs

A 7-year-old patient reports feeling “hot and sweaty.” After taking the patient’s oral temperature, a medical assistant documents a temperature that falls within the expected range for their age. Which of the following numbers should the assistant expect to see?

37° C (98.6 °F)

A 3-year-old child is being seen for ear pain. Which of the following should be used to obtain the child’s temperature?

Temporal artery

A medical assistant should identify that a patient who has a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 falls into which of the following categories?

Obese

Which of the following methods should a medical assistant use to help patients feel comfortable about having their weight measured in the office?

Place the scale in a private area within the office

A medical assistant is obtaining a patient’s vital signs. After measuring the heart rate, the MA documents 50/min. Which of the following terms best describes this?

Bradycardia

Which of the following vital signs for a 67-year-old patient is outside the expected reference range?

Temperature 36.5° C (97.8° F), heart rate 106/min, respiratory rate 20/min, BP 116/74 mm Hg

A 35-year-old established patient is in the office for an annual checkup. They report feeling great, and they appear to be in good physical condition. According to office policy, a medical assistant should check their blood pressure using the aneroid sphygmomanometer and temperature using an axillary thermometer. Their vital signs are BP 118/88 mm Hg, respiratory rate 16/min, temperature 39.1° C (102.4° F), and heart rate 62/min. given these vitals which of the following steps should the assistant take next?

Measure their temperature again with different type of thermometer

Which of the following manifestations should a medical assistant expect to see in a patient who has COPD?

Orthopnea

Which of the following methods should a medical assistant use to obtain a weight measurement from a patient who uses a walker and has balance concerns?

Use a scale with built-in handrails

You work in a gastroenterology practice and need to prepare a patient for a colonoscopy. Which of the following positions should the patient be in?

Left lateral

In which of the following specialties would a medical assistant most likely perform a spirometry test in?

Pulmonology

Which of the following categories will the patient’s insurance information belong in the patient’s health record?

Demographic data

A computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system allows more efficient medical entry and prescription-ordering electronically. Once a health care provider logs into the electronic health record (EHR), which of the following should be the provider’s next step?

Select the patient from a patient list

A patient is requesting a telehealth appointment with a provider. After a brief discussion with the patient, the medical assistant informs them that they are not eligible for a telehealth appointment. Which of the following could make the patient ineligible?

the patient fell on vacation and suspects their leg is broken

When entering a patient’s new prescription in the medical record, the medical assistant notices a message alerting them to a dosage error. Which of the following software options automatically checks for medication errors and interactions?

Clinical decision support system (CDSS)

A medical assistant is scheduling a patient’s follow-up appointment and the patient is requesting a telehealth visit. Which of the following guidance should the assistant offer the patient?

Provide the patient a list of software and technical requirements for the appointment

A medical assistant is discussing a controlled substance prescription for a new patient. The patient asks if it can be sent electronically to a specific pharmacy close to their house. Which of the following answers should the assistant give the patient?

Yes, as long as the pharmacy is using approved and certified software

A medical assistant is assisting a patient after a colonoscopy. Which of the following should the assistant inform the patient of in case the patient experiences pain or bleeding?

The patient should notify the health care provider

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who is being treated for kidney disease. One of the possible treatments is kidney disease. One of the possible treatments is a kidney transplant, and the patient is refusing that option. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Respect the patient’s wishes and answer any questions or concerns

A medical assistant is speaking with an older adult patient regarding how to increase their appetite. Which of the following considerations should the assistant make when speaking with the patient?

Speak clearly and maintain proper eye contact

A medical assistant is speaking with a medical provider about correspondence that will be written for a patient. Which of the following factors applies to the communication process between the assistant and provider?

Complex medical terms may be used

A medical assistant should recognize which of the following characteristics describe a kinesthetic communicator?

They tend to communicate by using their hands

Which of the following is a true statement regarding patients who utilize virtual visits?

They rely more on the words being said

A medical assistant is assisting with preparing a patient for their appointment by asking questions. Which of the following is a closed-ended question?

“Who is your employer?”

Which of the following actions should a medical assistant take when communicating with patients on the phone

Enunciate words

Which of the following should a medical assistant recognize as the purpose of using a template?

Templates guide the writer in using the proper format

A medical assistant is having a discussion with a patient who arrived late for their appointment and is upset that they are being requested to reschedule it. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to try to de-escalate the situation?

Allow the patient to vent the reason for the tardiness

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who is unhappy with the medical services they received. The patient feels that their needs were not met and demands that the medical provider see them again. The schedule is full and it is not possible to fit the patient in today. Which of the following actions should the assistant take?

Inform a supervisor of the situation and ask them to assist

The daughter of an adult patient has called to discuss the treatment plan for their parent. Which of the following actions should the medical assistant take?

Confirm the patient’s daughter is listed on the signed release of information

Which of the following actions positively contributes to teamwork and engagement of the team members?

Performing individual responsibilities and overall tasks

Which of the following characteristics demonstrates a professional attitude as a medical assistant

Good work ethic

A medical assistant is speaking with a patient who came in for management of diabetes. The assistant is giving the patient information about a diabetic diet. Which of the following is the goal of the therapeutic communication in the situation?

To encourage and supprt

A medical assistant is assisting to prepare for an upcoming virtual visit for chronic pain management. Which of the following is an important proactive measure to perform in preparation of the visit?

Check the audio and visual components are working properly

Which of the following is a component of active listening skills?

Paraphrasing what is being said

Which of the following vocal traits should be used when speaking with patients over the telephone?

Speak using a warm and natural tone

Which of the following actions assists with increased patient satisfaction?

Have the patient complete patient satisfaction survey after their appoinement

A medical assistant is working to de-escalate a conversation with a patient who is upset about receiving a statement of their account with a balance due. The patient then begins to calm down and asks questions that indicate a better understanding. Which of the following actions should the assistant take following the converstaion?

Document the conversation in the patient medical record

Which of the following is included in risk management for a health care organization?

Ensuring a safe environment

Which of the following protects patients’ health information and sets rules and limits on who can view and receive the information?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA)

Which of the following hold employers accountable for providing a safe workplace?

OSH Act

A medical assistant is performing a strep test for an adult patient. As the assistant approaches the patient with a swab, the patient open their mouth. Which of the following types of consent is the patient demonstrating?

Implied consent

Which of the following individuals can give informed consent to participate in a clinical trial?

A 16-year-old who enlisted in the military

Which of the following prohibits the sale of a patient’s protected health information (PHI)?

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act

Which of the following allows patients to be informed of specific procedures and treatment options they have available?

Patient’s Bill of Rights

A patient has a terminal illness and wants to appoint a family member to make decisions for them when they are unable to. Which of the following forms should be completed?

Durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC)

Which of the following forms is specifically used to indicate that a patient does not want to receive CPR if their heart stops or they stop breathing?

Do-not-resusciatate (DNR) order

Which of the following parties does ownership of a patient’s medical record usually remain with?

Health care provider

In which of the following situations does a patient have an authorize release of their medical record?

The patient’s family physician refers them to a specialist for an additional care

A medical assistant receives a call from a patient’s child, who is also a patient at the clinic and often accompanies the patient during their medical appointments. They ask the assistant to tell them what medication the patient is on. Which of the following is an appropriate response?

Release the patient’s information after the patient authorizes it or confirms that their child is their personal representative