Credit Questions

MD

Doctor of Medicine with full medical training. They can diagnose, treat, manage illnesses, and prescribe medications.

DO

Doctor of Osteopathy and similar to MD. They have full medical training and focuses on holistic approach — musculoskeletal system and the organs of the body.

NP

Nurse Practitioner with expanded authority to diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medications, and provide care in collaboration with physicians. 

RN

Registered Nurses with broad clinical responsibilities. They provide direct patient care, administer medications, and monitor health.

LVN

Licensed Vocational Nurses with more limited scope. They can can assist with basic patient care, vital signs, and medication administration under supervision.

MA

Medical Assistants trained in both clinical and administrative tasks, so they can perform basic exams, draw blood, and assist physicians.

CNA

Certified Nursing Assistants focusing on basic patient needs, like bathing, feeding, assiting with vitals and medication administration under supervision.

Hippocrates

Father of Medicine.

Slander

refers to spoken defamation, while libel refers to written defamation. But, both are forms of action that harms a person's reputation through false statements.

Statute of limitation is

the period of time during which a patient has to file a lawsuit. If a lawsuit was filed outside the statute of limitation, the court will not hear the case. 

Respondeat Superior

are the person, usually the provider, that is responsible for anything—good or bad—that happens in his office/clinic.

Implied Consent

a presumed consent to actions or conditions without explicitly agreeing, e.g., no proper consent form signed. 

Informed Consent

conversation that is informing an individual and helping them understand risks, nature, benefits, and alternatives of the procedure being agreed to. This ensures that decisions are made voluntarily and with understanding.

Re ipsa loquitur

means "the thing speaks for itself," which applies to cause of injury that's obvious it wouldn't happen without negligence.

medical assistant standard of care

is determined by their education, training, skills, experience, and responsibility.

OSHA

stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration and they set workplace standards and conduct inspections to ensure employee safety, hence, all employees must adhere to OSHA’s regulations.

Bloodborne pathogen

are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease, e.g., HIC, Hep B, or Hep C. The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard was created to minimize or eliminate the risk of these exposures in workplaces with employees who can anticipate being in contact with blood and other infectious materials.

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

was created to reduce the risk of healthcare workers’ exposure to bloodborne diseases, subsequently, it required OSHA to revise the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to to ensure all employees that could anticipate occupational exposure to blood are protected.

HIPAA

stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and is used to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients. It has four standards—transaction and code sets, privacy rule, security rule, and unique identifiers.

Medicare

are for individuals 65 years old and older.

Medicaid/Medical

are for low-income individuals, which varies from state to state.

TRICARE

are for or dependents of service personnel who died during active duty and retired service personnel

CHAMPVA

are for dependents of veterans who have total & permanent service-connected disabilities

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

requires patients to select a PCP, who acts as the gatekeeper to more specialized care.

Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs)

combines features from HMO and PPO; patients will not be covered for services outside of their network of providers but they are not required to choose a PCP and don’t need a referral to see a specialist.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

has contract between a group of providers that agreed on a predetermined list of charges for all services. Insured must meet their deductible before the insurer covers a percentage of the payment.

Who owns your medical record?

The provider owns the patients’ medical record.

Implied Consent

is assumed based on signs or actions of patients rather than oral communication. For instance, a patient extending their arm towards an M.A. when asked if they could obtain a blood pressure reading.

Expressed Consent

is given explicitly: written or oral. For example, a patients stating which arm she wants to receive the injection when asked by an M.A.

Informed Consent

is a legal process tht ensures the patient understands their treatment and gives consent for the treatment, e.g., explaining a specific procedure to the patient before they can sign a consent form.

Osteoblasts

are bone-building cells. They make new bone tissue and help bones grow and heal after an injury.

Osteocytes

are mature bone cells that help keep bones strong and communicate with other bone cells.

Fibromyalgia

a long-term condition that causes widespread muscle pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and tenderness throughout the body.

Osteopenia

is when bone density is lower than normal but not low enough to be considered osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious condition where bones become weak and more likely to break.

Flexion

bending a joint, making the angle between two bones smaller. Extension is straightening a joint, making the angle between two bones bigger.

Pronation vs Supination

means the palm faces downward.

means the palm faces upward.

Muscular dystrophy

is a group of inherited diseases that cause muscles to become weak and gradually break down over time.

Kyphosis

is an excessive forward curve of the upper back, causing a hunched posture. Lordosis is an excessive inward curve of the lower back. Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curve of the spine.

Sprain

An injury to a ligament (bone to bone) caused by stretching or tearing. Strain: An injury to a muscle or tendon (muscle to bone) caused by overstretching or tearing

Closed (Simple) Fracture

The bone breaks but does not break through the skin.

Open (Compound) Fracture

The broken bone goes through the skin, increasing the risk of infection.

A Greenstick Fracture

is more common in children, where the bone bends and cracks but does not break completely.

Function of the Skin

The skin protects the body from germs and injury, helps control body temperature, prevents water loss, and allows us to feel touch, pain, heat, and cold.

Epidermis

The first layer of skin that protects the body from bacteria, dirt, and UV rays.

Dermis

The second layer that contains blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands, hair follicles, and oil glands.

Subcutaneous Layer

The deepest layer made mostly of fat to cushion the body, store energy, and help keep the body warm.

The skeletal system

supports the body, protects internal organs, helps the body move with muscles, stores minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and produces blood cells.

Blood cells

are produced in the red bone marrow, which is found within certain bones, including the pelvis, ribs, sternum, vertebrae, and the ends of long bones.

Mastoid

behind the ear and contains air spaces that help protect the middle ear and serve as an attachment site for neck muscles.

Buccinator

in the cheek. It helps hold food between the teeth while chewing and allows us to blow and whistle.

Zygomaticus

extends from the cheekbone to the corners of the mouth. It allows us to smile by pulling the corners of the mouth upward.

Masseter

at the side of the jaw. It’s one of the strongest muscles and is used for chewing by raising the lower jaw.

Systolic

the highest pressure level, the first sound heard, and indicates when the heart is contracting.

Diastolic

the lowest pressure level, the last sound heard, and indicates when the heart is relaxed.

temporal

temple area of the skull

carotid

located under the jaw

brachial

inner aspect of the elbow

radial

found on the thumb side of the wrist

femoral

femoral artery passes through the groin

popliteal

at the back of the leg behind the knee

dorsalis pedis arteries

across the arch of the foot

Hypotension

a blood pressure that is below normal, e.g., 90/50 mmHg. Some symptoms include dizziness, fainting, fatigue, distorted vision, and nausea.

Hypertension

a blood pressure that is above normal, e.g., above 140/90 mmHg. Some symptoms include headaches, SOB, chest pain, or nosebleeds.

Describe how the blood flow through the heart (start with deoxygenated blood and end with oxygenated)

1. Deoxygenated blood flows into the right atrium, passes through the tricuspid valve, enters the right ventricle, passes through the pulmonary valve, and travels through the pulmonary arteries to the lungs.

2. In the lungs, blood picks up O2 and releases CO2, so oxygenated blood enters through the pulmonary veins, enters the left atrium, passes through the bicuspid/mitral valve, enters the left ventricle, passes through the aortic valve, and finally leaves the heart through the aorta and is pumped to the rest of the body.

Kidney

filters the blood, make urine, balance fluids and electrolytes, help control BP, and produce hormons for RBC production. Pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate glucose and make enzymes that help digest food.

There are three types of diabetes;

1. Type 1 Diabtes is an autoimmune disease that causes the pancreas to make little insulin.

2. Type 2 Diabetes makes the body become resistant to insulin or does not make enough insulin.

3. Gestational Diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after delivery.

Iron deficiency

is the lack of iron that causes the body to make fewer healthy RBC.

Pernicious Anemia

is a vitamin B12 deficiency caused by poor absorption that leads to fewer healthy RBS and possible nerve damage.

Sickle cell

is an inherited disorder that causes RBC to become sickle-shaped and block blood flow.

MRSA

a bacterial infection that affects skin and wounds.

Tuberculosis

a contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs and spreads through the air.

Dermatitis

the inflammation of the skin, causing redness, itchiness, and irritation.

Impetigo

a highly contagious bacterial skin infection causing honey-colored crusted sores.

Cellulitis

is a cacterial infection of the deeper layers of theskin that causes rednress, warmth, swelling, and pain.

Psoriasis

is a chronic autoimmune diseases that causes thick, red patches of skin.

Herpes Zoster

commonly known as Shingles is a painful blistering rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus.

Pyelonephritis

is a bacterial kidney infection that causes fever, flank pain, and painful urination.

Cystitis

is the infammation of the cyst—bladder infection—causing burn during urination.

Glomerulonephitis

is the infammation of the kidney’s filtering units causing blood or protein in the urine.

GERD

a digestive disorder in which stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and acid reflux.

Salmonella

a bacterial infection—from eating undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, or contaminated food—that affects the digestive system. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment usually includes rest and drinking fluids, or antibiotics. It can be prevented by cooking food thoroughly and washing the hands.

Shigella

a bacterial infection that is usually spread through contaminated food or water or from poor handwashing. Symptoms include diarrhea (usually with bloody stools), stomach cramps, and fever. Treatment includes fluids, or antibiotics may be needed in some cases. Washing your hands is the best way to prevent it.

E. coli

a group of bacteria that can be acquired from undercooked ground beef, contaminated vegetables, unpasteurized milk, or contaminated water. Symptoms can include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea (sometimes bloody). Treatment involves drinking fluids and resting. It can be prevented by cooking meat properly and washing the hands and food.

Listeria

a bacterium that can ve acquired from contaminated foods such as deli meats, soft cheeses, and unpasteurized dairy products. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Serious infections are treated with antibiotics and can be prevented with good food safety and avoiding unpasteurized foods.

Clostridium botulinum

is a bacterium—from improperly canned or preserved foods—that produces a toxin that affects the nervous system. Symptoms include blurred or double vision, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Treatment includes an antitoxin and medical care. It can be prevented by not eating canned foods that are opened or leaking.

Norovirus

a virus that can spread through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or contact with an infected person. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Though there is no specific treatment, drinking plenty of fluids is the best. It can be prevented by washing the hands and cleaning contaminated surfaces.

Hepatitis A

a virus—acquired by eating or drinking something contaminated—that affects the liver. Symptoms include tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, fever, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Though there is no specific treatment, rest and fluids are recommended. It can be prevented with the Hepatitis A vaccine and handwashing before handling food.

Trichinella spiralis

a parasite that causes an infection called trichinellosis. It is usually acquired by eating raw or undercooked pork. Symptoms usually include stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches. Treatment recommends antiparasitic medication, but the infection can be prevented by cooking meat thoroughly.

Virus

infectious agent that must live in a living cell to multiply and cannot be treated with antibiotics, e.g. Hep A. Bacteria is a living single-celled organisms that can multiply on their own uder right conditions and can be treated with antibiotics, e.g. Salmonella.