NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) - Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering basic sciences, pharmacology, allied health roles, clinical care delivery, nutrition, and patient safety for medical assistants.

Schedule II medications

The most tightly controlled of controlled medications, for which refills are not permitted.

Schedule III and Schedule IV medications

Controlled substances that can be prescribed with up to $5$ refills to be filled within a period of $6$ months.

Schedule V medications

The least controlled category of controlled medications, allowing providers the greatest prescribing flexibility, with some states permitting up to a year's worth of refills.

Honey

A nutritional substance classified as a simple carbohydrate.

Administrative medical assistant responsibilities

Non-clinical duties such as collecting copays, distinct from clinical tasks like obtaining vital signs, preparing medications, or performing EKGs.

Metabolism (pharmacokinetics)

The pharmacokinetic process describing the body's breakdown of a medication; it is significantly impacted by age, requiring dosage alterations because infants and older adults have slower rates.

The Right Medication

A medication administration standard verified by the medical assistant by stating the medication's name, the prescribing provider, and its intended therapeutic effect to the patient.

Physician's Desk Reference

A reference source containing a product identification guide with full-color photographs of medications, utilized to identify unknown prescription tablets or capsules.

Pediatric weight-based dosage calculation

The process of calculating medication volume by converting a child's weight in pounds into kilograms, rather than relying on height.

Physical therapist

An allied health professional to whom patients are referred to build physical strength and improve joint range of motion.

Occupational therapist

An allied health professional who works with patients facing developmental, emotional, mental, or physical restrictions to assist with daily living.

Nurse practitioner

An advanced practice provider qualified to deliver basic patient care services, including diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications for common illnesses.

Radiology technician

A medical professional who operates diverse diagnostic imaging machinery to assist healthcare providers in evaluating and managing disease.

Stage I chronic kidney disease dietary adjustment

The practice of limiting dietary sodium to less than $2,300\,\text{mg}$ per day to manage high blood pressure and prevent kidney function decline.

Stage IV and V chronic kidney disease dietary adjustment

The restriction of dietary phosphorus intake due to the advanced loss of kidney function causing elevated phosphorus levels in the blood.

Quadruple aim

The framework underlying value-based healthcare, consisting of improved patient outcomes, lower costs of care, improved patient satisfaction, and healthcare worker wellness.

Patient-centered medical home (PCMH)

A care delivery model led by a primary care provider (PCP) and supported by an interdisciplinary team to coordinate accessible, comprehensive patient treatment.

Managed care

An overarching term for healthcare plans providing coordinated medical services in exchange for predetermined, scheduled payments.

Anorexia nervosa warning signs

Observable clinical signs including excessive exercising, amenorrhea (lack of a menstrual period), and unexplained weight loss of at least $15\%$.

Medication allergy review frequency

The clinical standard requiring allergy verification at every patient encounter and whenever a new medication is prescribed.

Melatonin

A naturally occurring brain hormone that regulates sleep, which can also be administered as a dietary supplement for sleep support.

Gingko biloba

A dietary supplement utilized to enhance memory and cognitive function by increasing cerebral blood flow.

Willow bark

A plant-derived dietary supplement used primarily to provide pain relief.

Patient portal

A digital platform providing patients direct electronic access to laboratory and imaging results, increasing transparency and engagement while decreasing clinic call volume.

Albuterol (Proventil HFA)

A bronchodilator medication prescribed to relax smooth muscles of the airway.

Anticoagulants

A classification of pharmaceutical agents administered to delay blood clotting.

Antiemetics

A classification of medications formulated to reduce or control nausea and vomiting.

Subcutaneous route

An injectable parenteral route of medication administration delivered into the tissue beneath the skin, outside the gastrointestinal tract.

Antihistamines

A therapeutic drug classification utilized to counteract and relieve allergic responses, such as seasonal allergies.

Antihypertensives

Medications formulated specifically to reduce elevated systemic blood pressure.

Contraindication

A medical condition, symptom, or patient factor (such as chronic kidney disease with ibuprofen) that renders a specific treatment or drug inadvisable or hazardous.

Side effect

A predictable, known, and relatively benign yet undesired physiologic drug reaction that does not require discontinuation of the medication.

Adverse effect

An unintended, harmful drug effect (such as an acute allergic reaction) that warrants immediate cessation of the causative medication.

Sustained lifestyle change

A patient education concept emphasizing small, incremental modifications in diet and exercise to prevent overwhelming the patient and build lasting health habits.