RMA study
1. Medical Terminology and Anatomy
B. -ectomy – Means surgical removal.
B. Slow – “Brady-” refers to slow.
C. Sagittal – Divides the body into right and left.
B. Enlargement of the liver – “Megaly” means enlargement; “hepato” = liver.
C. Thigh – The femur is the thigh bone.
B. Hypertension – High blood pressure.
D. White blood cell – WBC stands for white blood cell.
B. Kidney – Filters blood and produces urine.
2. Law, Ethics, and Professionalism
A. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – HIPAA governs patient privacy.
C. Autonomy – Patients have the right to make their own decisions.
C. Personal opinion of the physician – Not part of informed consent.
C. Negligence – Failure to act prudently.
C. Act in the patient’s best interest – Beneficence.
C. Advance directive – Guides treatment when the patient cannot speak for themselves.
B. For treatment purposes – Permitted under HIPAA without consent.
A. Libel – Written defamation.
3. Psychology and Communication
B. Anxiety or resistance – Closed body language.
C. Fully concentrating and responding appropriately – Active listening.
B. Regression – Reverting to an earlier developmental stage.
C. Using silence – Encourages patients to share.
D. Physiological needs – Base of Maslow’s pyramid.
B. Face them directly and speak clearly – Best way to communicate with hearing-impaired patients.
C. “Tell me more about how you’re feeling.” – Open-ended, therapeutic.
C. Understanding and sharing feelings – Empathy.
4. Bookkeeping, Credits, and Collections
C. Superbill – Summarizes charges and procedures.
C. An overpayment has occurred – Credit balance.
C. Posting – Entering transactions.
B. Money owed to the office – Accounts receivable.
B. Offer a payment plan – Keeps patient in care and allows repayment.
C. Minor office expenses – Petty cash.
C. Receipt log – Documents all received payments.
C. Outstanding accounts – Aging reports show past due balances.
5. Billing, Coding, and Insurance
C. International Classification of Diseases – ICD codes diagnoses.
A. CPT – Codes for procedures and services.
B. Indicate a change in service – CPT modifiers add detail.
C. Verify patient eligibility – First step before submitting a claim.
B. Medicare – For 65+ and disabled individuals.
C. The amount the patient pays before insurance – Deductible.
A. Explanation of Benefits – Summary of insurance decision.
B. A software tool that checks for errors – Scrubbers help prevent claim denials.
6. Medical Records and Office Supplies
C. Date of birth – Demographic info.
C. Problem-oriented – Organized by patient complaint.
C. Subjective – What the patient reports.
C. Indexing – Sorting records for filing.
C. 7–10 years – Standard for adult record retention.
B. Track future dates or tasks – Tickler file is a reminder system.
B. Quantity used – Tracks supply usage to prevent overstocking.
B. Patient charts – Require secure, confidential storage.
7. Oral and Written Communication
B. Correct grammar and spelling – Ensures professionalism.
C. To, From, Date, Subject – Basic memo format.
C. Identify the office and yourself – Professional and helpful.
C. Signature and title – Ends a business letter formally.
C. Escalate them to the appropriate staff – Professional complaint management.
C. Documented phone note – Becomes part of the patient record.
B. Documented clearly – Legal and clinical necessity.
C. Encrypted email – Best for privacy.
8. Scheduling and Office Management
B. Show unavailable times for appointments – Matrix blocks time.
C. Multiple patients booked at the top of the hour – Wave scheduling.
C. Offer to reschedule – Maintains continuity of care.
B. Speed and efficiency – Computerized systems are fast and flexible.
C. Future follow-ups – Tickler files manage upcoming events.
B. Appointment – “Appt” is standard abbreviation.
C. Early morning – Fasting blood draws require no food overnight.
C. Review availability and call patients – Best way to resolve conflicts.
9. Exam Room Techniques, Patient Prep, Infection Control
C. Ask for name and date of birth – Two identifiers.
C. 90° – For intramuscular injections.
C. Sphygmomanometer – Measures BP.
B. Absence of pathogens – Asepsis.
C. Handwashing – #1 way to prevent spread of infection.
B. Face shield – PPE = Personal Protective Equipment.
C. Lower them to the floor and elevate legs – Standard response for syncope.
C. As per manufacturer’s instructions – Depends on thermometer type.
10. Office Laboratory Procedures
B. Clinical laboratory testing – CLIA ensures lab testing quality.
C. Cotton swab – Used for collecting throat samples.
B. Dipstick – Checks for glucose, ketones, etc.
C. Spin specimens to separate components – Centrifuge function.
C. Specimen container – Label immediately to prevent mix-ups.
B. A1C – Reflects blood glucose control over ~3 months.
C. Red – Universal color for biohazard.
C. The percentage of red blood cells – Hematocrit measures RBC volume.
11. Emergency Procedures and First Aid
B. Check for response and call for help – Always assess first.
B. Myocardial infarction – Classic symptoms of heart attack.
B. 30:2 – Adult CPR: 30 compressions, 2 breaths.
C. Apply direct pressure – First aid for bleeding.
C. Epinephrine – First-line for anaphylaxis.
C. Fracture – A broken bone.
C. Stabilize head and neck – Prevent spinal damage.
B. Rapid pulse and cold, clammy skin – Classic signs of shock.
12. Pharmacology
C. As needed – PRN is Latin for “pro re nata.”
C. Intravenous – Fastest route due to direct access to bloodstream.
C. Antipyretic – Reduces fever (e.g., acetaminophen).
B. Twice a day – “Bid” is from Latin “bis in die.”
C. Nonproprietary name – Generic drug name.
B. A reason not to give the drug – Contraindication.
B. Subcutaneous – Common route for insulin.
B. Pharmacology – Study of drugs and their effects.
13. Pathophysiology
B. Pancreas – In diabetes, insulin production or use is impaired.
C. Rheumatoid arthritis – Autoimmune, chronic joint inflammation.
C. Lack of blood flow to the brain – Causes a stroke.
B. Influenza – A virus; others listed are bacterial or fungal.