Unit 1: Study Guide; Terminology & Definitions

Unit 1: Chapter 1-4: Medical Assistants

NHA (National Healthcareer Association)

Offers healthcare certification exams.

NCCT (National Center for Competency Testing)

Offers NCMA and NCMOA certification exams.

AAPC (Coding Credential Organization)

CPC-OP is identified on the test as an unrecognized AAPC certification

Programmatic Accreditation

Evaluates a specific educational offering, such as a medical assisting curriculum.

Continuing Education

Ongoing professional learning after initial education/training.

Allergist

Diagnoses and treats altered immunologic reactivity/allergic condition.

Cardiologist

Diagnoses and treats abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of the heart.

Pathologist

Analyze tissue samples to confirm diagnoses and usually has little or no direct patient contact.

Physician (MD/DO)

Licensed provider; test associates this role with USMLE/residency requirements.

Medical Assistant (MA)

Works under a licensed physician and performs clinical and administrative tasks; certifications can include CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

Registered Nurse (RN)

Provides direct patient care, administers medications, educates patients, and is associated with NCLEX

Physician Assistant (PA)

Performs exams, orders tests, and can prescribe certain medications under physician supervision;supervision; scope varies by state.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Provides direct patient care under supervision in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar settings.

Patient Advocate/Navigator

Explains insurance coverage, assists with referrals, and guides patients to support services/community resources.

Appearance

The image you project; professional, clean, wrinkle

Eye Contact

One of the most powerful body

Gestures

Body movements that enhance communication; examples include thumbs

Facial Expression

Communicates emotion without words

Distance

Physical space between people can affect comfort and communication.

Silence

Can be used intentionally during communication.

Therapeutic Touch/Relationship

Appropriate touch and professional relationships can support patient communication.

Visual

Illustrations; reading; taking notes

Auditory

Podcasts; verbal instructions

Kinesthetic

Practicing physical movements; imitating and practicing.

Prejudice

A conscious or unconscious bias that can affect communication and healthcare decisions and contribute to disparities.

Bias

Views that develop over time through individual life experiences.

Innate

Inherent or natural.

Behaviors

Professional characteristics or attitudes expected in particular professions.

CLIA

Establishes laboratory operating guidelines and testing standards to support accuracy and quality.

OSHA

Federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor that enforces workplace safety regulations.

WHO

United Nations specialized agency working to control and eradicate disease worldwide and support global health.

HIPAA

Protects patient privacy, addresses fraud/abuse, and regulates electronic transmission of health data.

NIH

U.S. HHS research agency supporting biomedical research and health information.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Works to enhance and expand access to holistic care and community well

Children’s Hospice International

Focuses education, training, and technical assistance for those caring for children with life

Kübler-Ross

Developed the five stages of grief

Bargaining

The patient tries to negotiate or change the situation in hopes of a longer life.

Erikson

Psychosocial development occurs in stages across the life cycle; each stage includes a struggle or crisis that must be overcome.

Ayurvedic Medicine

Traditional healing system from India focused on balancing vata, pitta, and kapha.

Acupuncture

Sterile thin needles are inserted at specific points along meridians to relieve pain or treat conditions.

Aromatherapy

Uses essential oils extracted from plants for therapeutic effects such as stress relief.

Biofeedback

Uses electrical equipment to help a person gain voluntary control over bodily functions such as stress, pain, or heart rate.

Visualization & Guided Imagery

Mind-body therapy using positive mental images to reduce stress, manage pain, and improve well-being

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Applies to job-related injures while carrying out assigned responsibilities

Errors and Omissions Coverage

Applies when harm results from failure to meet accepted clinical standards;excludes illegal acts.

General Liability Insurance

Covers non-clinical claims such as damage to a visitor’s property or reputation while on site

Personal Injury Insurance

Can involve harm caused by disclosure of private medical details outside the care team.

Professional Malpractice Insurance

Covers civil claims related to unintentional failures in care delivery (bad practice).

Risk Management

Systematic identification and management of exposure to financial loss through selected strategies.

The Joint Commission’s Definition

Clinical and administrative activities aimed at reducing risks to patients, staff visitors, and organization.

Risk Types in Healthcare

can include property, liability, and personnel threats.

Proactive Risk Component

Prevents adverse events before they occur.

Reactive Risk Component

Responds after a negative event to minimize damage or recurrence.

Individual Mandate

Requirement to obtain health insurance or face a financial penalty.

Tax Cuts and Job Act (2017)

Eliminated the federal financial penalty for not carrying health insurance.

Medicaid Expansion

Expanded insurance access for low

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Protects confidentiality in health records.

HIPAA Security Rule

Technical safeguards for electronic health data.

Eugenics

Improving genetic qualities through selective breeding.

Cloning

Creating a genetically identical copy of a human.