Medical Assistant Practice Test 3

Trendelenburg is the correct position for a patient who has suffered blood loss or is otherwise going into shock because it positions the head lower than the feet.

When a patient has an especially common name, such as John Smith, it is necessary to be careful when inputting the date of birth correctly. The date of birth will be used as the second identifier in the EHR.

Kohlberg, who built his ideas on theories already developed by Piaget, believed that moral development and ethical behavior relied on the age and problem-solving ability of the individual.

Drug excretion is handled by the kidneys as they ultimately remove the medication from the body by way of the urethra. Drug distribution refers to the transport of medication through the body once it is ingested, while action refers to how the medication works. Metabolism is how the medication is converted for the process of excretion.

Stitches should be removed 7–10 days after being placed. August 28th is the only day that falls within that timeline.

The medical assistant is the only health care worker listed who is not licensed. She or he may instead be certified, but this is not the same as a professional license.

Rationalization is making excuses or subverting logic in an attempt to explain a behavior. In this case, the patient is attempting to justify the behavior of her husband. Denial is a flat-out refusal to accept that anything wrong happened. Compensation is a mechanism in which a person focuses on a strength in order to compensate for a weakness. Regression is reverting to an earlier stage of development in order to deal with an issue.

TRICARE is the insurance that covers the dependents of active-duty military personnel. CHAMPVA covers the spouse of a veteran. SSI is social security income, which is not insurance. Lastly, EPO is an exclusive provider organization and usually requires that the physician work for them.

Morphological studies describe the shape and size of cells, including whether they are micro-, macro-, or normocytic. A CBC includes a complete count of all cells from red blood cells to white blood cells. ESR describes the amount of inflammation present in the body. ABO blood type categorizes the markers on the blood cells themselves, but does not describe the shape and size of the cells themselves.

Korotkoff sounds are produced when listening for a blood pressure reading manually. The top noise is the systolic number and the last noise heard is the diastolic number. Rinne sounds have to do with a unilateral hearing test. The other two names are not related to heart sounds.

Verifying the dosage with the physician who wrote the order is safest for the patient and is the most appropriate response. Checking with a coworker, or the pharmacy, or a reference book is inappropriate.

A monitor is an output device which displays information. A peripheral is an auxiliary device, such as a computer mouse or keyboard, that connects to and works with the computer in some way. Software is a general term for the various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices. A scanner is an input device that scans documents and images.

Feedback is the only part of communication that would indicate whether communication is a success or a failure. The sender, message, and receiver are other important parts of the communication process, but they do not necessarily indicate the success or failure of an interaction.

Cystitis is a potentially painful inflammation of the bladder. It can produce symptoms such as increased urinary frequency and burning with urination. The prefix cysto- indicates the bladder.

When using a multi-dose vial to withdraw medication, it is important to first inject air equivalent to the amount of medication needed. Never shake the vial of insulin; doing so will create bubbles and possibly destabilize the dose.

15 degrees is the correct angle at which to inject an intradermal medication. Intramuscular and subcutaneous medications are generally given at a 45 degree angle, but at different depths.

AIDS is considered a viral condition of the immunotrophic type because it greatly affects the immune system. Dermotrophic viruses, such as shingles or small pox, affect the skin. Enterotrophic viruses, like hepatitis, affect the gut. Neurotrophic diseases wreak havoc on the neurological system, an example being rabies.

The alphabetical system, which organizes according to last name, is fine for larger practices. This is also true of a numeric filing system. A numeric system; however, may include portions of a patient’s social security number. It cannot be concluded that the numeric filing system is the most common.

The correct spelling is “larynx.” The others words are all spelled correctly.

The ‘office policies and procedures’ manual should be updated at least yearly to ensure that the information in it is current. It may be updated more often, but it should not be updated less than once a year.

It is the patient’s right to refuse any health information offered by the medical assistant. The patient is not under any obligation to hear it. Breaching the patient’s confidence to tell her husband is inappropriate.

A No. 10 envelope, commonly referred to as ‘business size,’ measures 4⅛ by 9½ inches and should be used to mail all general correspondence unless otherwise indicated.

One staff member should be designated as the person to decide when the office should be evacuated. Backup power sources should be identified and routinely checked, as should devices like an AED. Staff members should have individual duties to complete in an emergency to make sure nothing is missed.

Casts are hardened proteins that are washed out in the urine, and may provide many diagnostic values. Sediment describes any waste particles in urine. Plasma and RBCs are found in the blood component.

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that may clear up the URI, while Mucinex and Albuterol will improve breathing status. Hydrochlorothiazide is used to remove excess water from the body and is unlikely to be prescribed for this patient’s URI.

Antivirus software is an example of utility software, which is used to maintain a computer’s function. Gmail is an email client, which is an example of communication software. Microsoft word is word processing software and Adobe Photoshop is graphics software.

The day manager is responsible for this training, as the employee cannot be expected to know which training must be completed in a new office environment. The practice manager depends on the day manager to fulfill this responsibility.

Vitamin B is the only water soluble vitamin listed above. Vitamins A, K, and D are fat-soluble. Water soluble vitamins readily dissolve in water, and consequently, are required daily by the body in small amounts. Fat soluble vitamins do not require daily consumption due to their absorption by fatty tissue.

A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident, can feature dizziness, mental confusion, difficulty in speaking, loss of vision, headache, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, and potential loss of bowel and bladder control. The other conditions would not present these symptoms.

Medical information is required to be entered on a claims form for insurance purposes. The chief complaint may be included, but “medical information” as a whole is more descriptive, and more important. The social history and social security number is not included.

The living will is the document that expresses the wishes of the individual regarding any end-of-life treatment. The power of attorney is a document indicating a person who can represent the individual, per their consent, if the person is unable to do so. The last will and testament is not entirely medical and may contain other legal items. The GFEL is a fictional document.

Compared to the other answer choices, cauliflower is not a good source of calcium. Milk, sardines, and canned salmon are excellent sources of calcium.

Laser surgery would be used for photocoagulation therapy procedures because this surgery uses light waves for thermal vaporization, coagulation, and ablation. Microsurgery involves the use of tiny instruments, while cryosurgery involves freezing an area in order to remove damaged tissue. Electrosurgery uses an instrument to deliver an electrical current that can cut tissue.

Swimming in a pool would destroy the plaster of the cast and should be avoided. The other activities are all safe to do while wearing a cast.

Diagnosis is not a category of CPT; the other choices are all correct examples. Surgery, radiology, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic ultrasound, pathology, and medicine are all sections listed as well.

Dermatologists are normally specialists who may be booked weeks in advance. Consequently, they are most likely to use advance scheduling. Normally, primary care physicians and gynecologists have more open options and schedules. ER physicians do not typically have appointments booked.

In this situation, the physician had a clear duty to the patient, which can be determined from the phrase “established patient.” Additionally, there was no damage done that we know of, nor do we know the physician’s licensing status, so we cannot conclude that the other answer choices are correct.

A pregnancy test may be performed at home and is therefore considered a low complexity test. The other tests require professional knowledge that is beyond the average layperson when it comes to carrying out and correctly interpreting the test results.

The problem-oriented medical record makes it easy to follow a patient’s treatment and progress, especially when compared to the alternative: a source-oriented record. The source-oriented record describes all problems and treatments on the same page. Both records contain assistant and physician notes.

Bowman’s capsule, which is shaped like the letter C, is where the kidney filters water and waste from the blood. The kidneys process up to 180 liters per day. ADH stands for antidiuretic hormone and causes the kidneys to become more permeable in order to retain more water.

The fifth cranial nerve is responsible for jaw movement and sensation. The second cranial nerve is responsible for sense of vision, while tongue movement is controlled by the twelfth cranial nerve. Swallowing is controlled by the ninth cranial nerve.

Oxygen may be used, but only when deemed necessary by the physician, not the medical assistant, in order to facilitate the patient’s breathing. All other actions, such as monitoring vital signs, keeping the patient warm under a blanket, and positioning feet above the level of the heart are correct.

A ratio of 1:10 for bleach and water is the correct amounts to constitute an adequate disinfectant. More water than bleach is needed for disinfectant in order to properly kill germs without harming the user. Apple cider vinegar is not used as a disinfectant in the medical setting. Solute is not properly defined and therefore cannot be concluded as containing the correct ratio.

Cancer can present itself by way of suspicious lumps, a chronic cough, persistent indigestion, and coughing up blood. These signs should be examined immediately to diagnose the situation and to determine potential treatment options.

Patients who are seriously ill usually require more scheduled time. It’s a good idea to place additional chairs in the exam room, as many seriously ill patients come to the appointment with a caregiver or other family member. Try to be prompt and respectful of their time; remain focused on what issues are present today in order to best help the patient.

Standard processing time with autoclaves requires 15-20 minutes before the instruments will be clean and sterile.

When placing new sutures, sterile technique is required in order to avoid introducing bacteria into the wound. Rectal exams are, by definition, not sterile. Pap smears should be clean, but cannot be sterile based on the environment. Sutures should be removed with clean gloves, but because they are being removed, sterility is not required.

Operating scissors are used to cut or dissect tissue. They may have straight or curved blades. Popular brands include Iris, Metzenbaum, and Mayo. Some surgeons refer to these scissors by their brand name.

The address in the letter should be four spaces below the date. The copy notation should be 1 or 2 lines below the enclosure. The closing compliment is 2 lines below the body. The postscript should be 2 lines below the last line.

An Automated External Defibrillator is usually called an AED. The AED detects the electrical activity of the victim’s heart and checks the heart’s rhythm. If the heart is in ventricular fibrillation, the AED instructs the provider to press a button that delivers a controlled shock to the victim’s heart. The shock stops the heart and allows it to resume a normal rhythm. When an AED is immediately available, the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest can increase by 75% or more over CPR on its own.