Medical Assisting Exam Review Notes

Blood Pressure Cuffs
  • Types of Blood Pressure Cuffs: Large adult, Pediatric, and Thigh.
    • The most commonly used is the large adult size.
Physical Therapy
  • Role of a Physical Therapist: To restore a patient's range of motion.
  • Methods Used: Exercise, massage, heat therapy, and cold therapy.
  • Acupuncture: Usually not performed by a physical therapist.
Conditions and Symptoms
  • Hyperthermia Symptoms: Lack of sweating, loss of coordination, drowsiness, and convulsions.
  • Hypothermia Signs: Lack of muscle coordination, pale, waxy skin, and decreased respirations.
  • Hypertension Symptoms: Chest pain, blurred vision, and headaches.
  • Orthostatic Hypotension: Occurs when a patient's blood pressure drops upon standing up.
  • MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus):
    • A highly contagious infection.
    • Grows even in the presence of methicillin (an antibiotic).
    • Requires patient quarantine due to its contagiousness.
Medical Professionals
  • Laboratory Technician: Skilled in testing blood, urine, and other body fluids.
  • Nephrologist: Specializes in disorders and diseases of the kidneys.
  • Ophthalmologist: Treats and diagnoses problems and diseases of the eyes.
  • Optometrist: Performs eye exams and prescribes glasses.
  • Phlebotomist: Someone who draws blood.
  • Anesthesiologist: Administers local and general anesthesia.
  • Allergist: Treats abnormal responses to hypersensitivity.
  • Dermatologist: Treats infections of the skin, hair, and nails.
Vital Signs and Measurements
  • Standard Vital Signs: Temperature (T), Pulse (P), Respiration (R), and Blood Pressure (BP).
  • Pulse and Respiration Measurement:
    • 30 seconds is acceptable practice (multiplied by 22).
    • 60 seconds is the most accurate timeframe to count pulse and respirations.
  • **Pulse Sites (9 total discussed - 8 explicitly named, 1 implied):
    1. Temporal
    2. Carotid
    3. Brachial
    4. Radial
    5. Apical
    6. Femoral
    7. Popliteal
    8. Dorsalis Pedis
    9. (Implied a ninth, lower leg site)
  • Blood Pressure Documentation: Always documented in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
  • Blood Pressure Measurement: Measures the pressure of the blood against the wall of the artery.
  • Optimal Age for First Blood Pressure: 55 years old.
  • Anthropometric Measurements: Height, weight, baby's head circumference, and BMI (Body Mass Index).
    • These are not considered vital signs but have their own classification.
  • Menstruating/Menstruation: Refers to measuring.
  • Normal Body Temperature (Ear): Not explicitly stated, but implies there is a specific normal range.
Thermometers
  • Tympanic Thermometer: Used in the ear (also known as aural).
  • Other Types: Chemical thermometers and non-mercury glass thermometers.
Medical Terms and Concepts
  • Discretion, Integrity, Empathy: Good quality characteristics for a medical assistant.
  • Pity: Not a good characteristic for a medical assistant.
  • Stethoscope: Used to listen to blood pressure sounds.
  • Sphygmomanometer: Measures blood pressure, but does not allow listening. Both are needed to take a BP.
  • Hepatitis A: Transmitted by fecal waste contamination of food and water.
    • More common in third-world countries.
  • Hepatitis B & C: Transmitted through blood.
    • More common in the US medical field due to exposure.
  • Inches to Centimeters Conversion: Multiply inches by 2.22.2 to convert to centimeters.
  • Pain:
    • Considered a universal symptom.
    • Considered subjective.
    • Overwhelming, Difficult-to-Relieve Pain (e.g., end-stage cancer): Specific medical terminology (not explicitly named in this segment, but described as such).
    • Referred Pain: Pain felt at a location away from the actual problem site.
  • Micrometer: One millionth part of a meter (1imes10−61 imes 10^{-6} meters).
  • Group Practice: A clinic or office with three or more doctors practicing medicine together.
  • Auscultation: The act of listening, typically to the heart, lungs, stomach, or bowels, to check for rhythm, strength, presence, or absence of sounds.
  • Mycology: The study of fungus.
  • Alopecia: Not defined in the transcript, but mentioned as a term to know.
  • Microorganisms (Normal Locations): Skin, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal tract.
  • Disinfectants: Eliminate germs.
  • Hypothalamus: Controls body temperature.
  • Clinical Diagnosis (Working/Preliminary Diagnosis): The doctor's initial assumption of the patient's condition, pending definitive test results.
  • Pulse Rate Terminology:
    • Tachycardia (Tachy): Pulse rate over 100100 beats per minute.
    • Bradycardia (Brady): Pulse rate under 6060 beats per minute.
  • Accreditation: Applies to an institution (e.g., a school).
  • Cyanosis (Cyano): Blue coloration, indicating a lack of oxygen.
  • AIDS: Considered the fifth leading cause of death in the USA.
  • Sterilization: The destruction of all living organisms and spores.
  • Remitting Fever: Fluctuates over a wide range within a 2424-hour period but does not return to normal.
    • Contrast with Intermittent Fever: Returns to normal before spiking again.
  • Pulse Observation: Rate, volume, and rhythm.
  • CEUs (Continuing Education Units): Required to maintain medical certifications; granted for every hour of training/education.
Historical Figures and Medical Symbols
  • Dr. Harvey: First to write about blood circulation.
  • Caduceus: The symbol of medicine; a staff with two serpents intertwined.
  • Florence Nightingale: Founder of nursing.
  • John Hunter: Founder of Scientific Surgery.
  • Elizabeth Blackwell: First female physician in the United States.
Medical Assistant Responsibilities
  • Administrative Responsibilities: Scheduling, handling prescriptions, auditing prescriptions, subcoding, and insurance claims.
  • Clinical Responsibilities: Blood draws, injections, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, obtaining a medical history, and performing ECGs.
  • Sterilization Lead: Most of the time, medical assistants are responsible for sterilization.
Hygiene and Safety
  • Proper Hand Washing: Requires friction, warm running water, and disinfectant soap.
    • Friction activates the ingredients in soap and sanitizers.
  • General Workplace Etiquette: Avoid drinking or chewing gum in open reception areas.
  • Aluminum Foil: Never used to wrap any type of material for medical purposes (e.g., sterilization).
  • Temperature for Bacteria Kill: 107∘F107^{\circ}F (41.67∘C41.67^{\circ}C) will kill most bacteria.
  • Microorganism Control: Proper handwashing and understanding where microorganisms are normally found are key.
Public Health
  • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Purpose: To safeguard public health by preventing and controlling diseases.
Certification Bodies
  • AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants): Certification leads to CMA (Certified Medical Assistant).
  • AMT (American Medical Technologists): Certification leads to RMA (Registered Medical Assistant).
  • NHA (National Healthcareer Association): Certification leads to CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant).
Body's Natural Defense Mechanisms
  • Influenced by:
    • Age
    • Dietary intake
    • Adequate amount of rest
  • Stress and fatigue can compromise these defenses.
Volume of Pulse Influencers
  • Forcefulness of the heartbeat.
  • Dehydration.
  • Condition of the arterial walls.