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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

NHA CCMA Exam Questions

Page 9 of 25

161.

You are reviewing a patient's medical record to ensure the results of her laboratory tests are available to discuss at today's appointment. Your coworker knows the patient and asks to see the lab results. How should you respond?

  • Remind your coworker about health information privacy and deny access to the records

  • Allow the coworker to take a brief look at the laboratory results

  • Inform your coworker that you will need to ask the patient for permission to share the laboratory results 

  • Print a copy of the laboratory report and give it to your coworker 

Correct answer: Remind your coworker about health information privacy and deny access to the records

A patient's medical record is private and should not be read or discussed by any medical professional not directly involved in their care. Allowing the coworker to view the patient's medical record without direct association of care is a breach of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which forbids the transfer of private health information.

162.

Which of the following is not a medical condition that may require a medical assistant to perform a capillary puncture instead of a traditional venipuncture?

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Dehydration

  • Obesity

  • Cancer

Correct answer: Fibromyalgia

Capillary punctures are warranted when a patient's condition makes venipuncture difficult. These situations include:

  • Elderly people
  • Babies and infants under 2
  • Individuals with burns or scars covering venipuncture sites
  • Obese patients
  • People receiving chemo
  • Severely dehydrated individuals

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes musculoskeletal pain but is not considered a condition that frequently requires capillary puncture in place of venipuncture.

163.

Which of the following is considered an allied health professional?

  • Kinesiotherapist

  • Chiropractor

  • Nurse practitioner

  • Hospitalist

Correct answer: Kinesiotherapist

Allied health professionals are healthcare professionals who cannot independently diagnose patients and often work under the direction of a doctor. Kinesiotherapists are allied health professionals who specialize in kinesiology, which is the study of movement. They rehabilitate clients to help them improve their function and movement patterns. 

Chiropractors (DCs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and hospitalists are all medical professionals who do not need supervision from another doctor. 

164.

A medical assistant is preparing to measure a patient's temperature using a temporal artery thermometer. 

Which of the following steps is incorrect or unnecessary in the procedure?

  • Press the probe firmly between the eyebrows for 10 seconds, then depress the SCAN button and begin to glide the thermometer to the side.

  • Hold the SCAN button and glide the probe sideways across the patient's forehead to the hairline above the ear.

  • Gently place the probe on the patient's forehead, halfway between the edge of the eyebrows and the hairline, at the center of the face.

  • Keep the button depressed, lift the thermometer, and place the probe behind the ear lobe to continue scanning the temporal artery.

Correct answer: Press the probe firmly between the eyebrows for 10 seconds, then depress the SCAN button and begin to glide the thermometer to the side.

To measure a patient’s temperature using a temporal artery thermometer, it is not necessary to hold the probe between the eyebrows. Instead, the steps are as follows. 

  1. Wash your hands or use sanitizer.
  2. Gather supplies.
  3. Greet the patient and identify yourself and the procedure.
  4. Remove the cap and add a disposable cover or clean the surface with an alcohol wipe.
  5. Push the patient’s hair aside to expose the site and gently place the probe on the forehead between the eyebrows and the hairline.
  6. Depress the scan button and lightly glide the probe sideways across the forehead.
  7. Keep the button depressed, lift the thermometer, and place the probe behind the ear lobe.
  8. When scanning is complete, release the button and lift the probe.
  9. Eject the probe cover into the other waste bin or disinfect the thermometer.
  10. Wash your hands or use sanitizer.
  11. Document the temperature in the medical record.

165.

The doctor orders a peak flow meter for a 19-year-old patient with newly diagnosed asthma. The patient is to use it at least once a day, preferably in the morning, before taking asthma medication. The patient has to call the office if a low number is displayed. 

What teaching should you give the patient on the care and maintenance of this new manual peak flow meter?

  • Check the device regularly for cracks, which can allow air to leak from the meter.

  • Never submerge the meter in water, as it may damage the meter. Instead, use a damp cloth to wipe it after use.

  • With proper care, the meter should last 5–10 years.

  • To clean the meter, put it in the dishwasher or laundry washer.

Correct answer: Check the device regularly for cracks, which can allow air to leak from the meter.

Cracks let air leak out of the meter, which would mean the volume of air forced into the meter would not be read accurately. 

Meters can be submerged in water, rinsed well, and air-dried. Also, many manual peak flow meters can be washed in the dishwasher. Users should read the package insert that comes with the device for more details. 

166.

You are preparing a patient for a 12-lead EKG. Where is the best placement of the red (V1) lead wire?

  • Fourth ICS at the right sternal edge

  • Fourth ICS at the left sternal edge

  • Midway between the sternum and V2

  • Midway between V2 and V4

Correct answer: Fourth ICS at the right sternal edge

The lead wires are typically color-coded and include an abbreviation on each wire. Colors may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is important to know and use the right abbreviations. 

Correct placement of the electrodes and lead wires for an ECG are:

  • The RA (white) electrode and lead wire go on the right arm above the wrist or upper arm, according to the user's guide.
  • The LA (black) electrode and lead wire go on the right arm above the wrist or upper arm, according to the user's guide.
  • The RL (green) electrode and lead wire go on the inner lower leg, just above the ankle.
  • The LL (red) electrode and lead wire go on the inner lower leg, just above the ankle.
  • The VI (red) chest electrode and lead wire go over the fourth intercostal space (ICS) at the right sternal edge.
  • The V2 (yellow) chest electrode and lead wire go over the fourth intercostal space (ICS) at the left sternal edge.
  • The V3 (green) chest electrode and lead wire go midway between V2 and V4.
  • The V4 (blue) chest electrode and lead wire go over the fifth intercostal space (ICS) on the midclavicular line.
  • The V5 (orange) chest electrode and lead wire go over the same horizontal plane as V4 at the left anterior axillary line or the midpoint between V4 and V6.
  • The V6 (purple) chest electrode and lead wire go over the same horizontal plane as V4 at the midaxillary line.

167.

Medical assistants should not apply hand sanitizer if their hands are visibly soiled. What is the rationale behind this recommendation?

  • When hands are visibly soiled, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water. 

  • Mixing sanitizer with surface dirt creates mud.

  • Alcohol-based sanitizer causes dirt to be absorbed into the skin.

  • When hands are visibly dirty, the individual must perform a 2-minute surgical scrub. 

Correct answer: When hands are visibly soiled, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water. 

If the hands are visibly soiled, then a 20-second medical aseptic hand wash should be performed. When hands are heavily soiled or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well enough to remove residue and debris. When hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred over soap and water for several reasons:

  • It is more effective than soap at killing potentially deadly germs on your hands.
  • It requires less time than handwashing. 
  • Sanitizer is usually more accessible than handwashing sinks.

168.

Medical assistants may assist patients and doctors by preparing prescriptions for doctors to sign or transmitting orders to the pharmacy. 

Which of the following is not required by federal or state law to be on the physician's order/prescription?

  • Date to discontinue

  • Date of issue

  • Drug name

  • Doctor's signature and NPI

Correct answer: Date to discontinue

Doctors are not required to set the date that the patient will stop medication. Orders for antibiotics may have a discontinue date, but this is not the case for all medications.

169.

Which of the following proclaims that, although it is an awesome responsibility to be faced with the ability to save or take a life, above all, it is imperative not to play God?

  • The Hippocratic Oath

  • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

  • The code of medical ethics

  • The code of ethics for doctors

Correct answer: The Hippocratic Oath

The Hippocratic Oath, derived from the writings of Hippocrates, explains that it is an awesome responsibility to be faced with the ability to save or take a life. Above all, it is imperative not to play God. The Hippocratic Oath outlines what is believed to be ethical and unethical while practicing medicine.

HIPAA dictates how medical professionals must protect private patient health information.

170.

After verification of eligibility and coverage, what should be done next to ensure that a patient's insurance will cover the procedure? 

  • Obtain prior authorization to move forward with the intended procedure

  • Verify whether the employer that holds the insurance coverage approves of the procedure

  • Ensure that the patient can get the appropriate time off for the intended procedure

  • Obtain written proof that the patient needs the intended procedure in order to bill the insurance company

Correct answer: Obtain prior authorization to move forward with the intended procedure 

The insurance company must approve the suggested procedure before the procedure can take place. This is done through prior authorization (also called preauthorization).

You don't need to determine whether the patient's employer approves of the intended procedure or whether the patient can get time off work in order to move forward. The provider indicating that the patient needs the procedure constitutes proof.

171.

During a blood pressure measurement, a certified medical assistant ensures proper cuff placement for accurate readings. Why is it crucial to position the bottom edge of the cuff approximately 1 inch, or 2 finger breadths, above the bend in the elbow or antecubital space?

  • To allow room for the stethoscope without touching the cuff during the reading

  • To facilitate access to the blood pressure trigger-style air release valve

  • To maximize the rate of cuff deflation

  • To minimize the risk of cuff-related skin irritation

Correct answer: To allow room for the stethoscope without touching the cuff during the reading

Making sure the lower border of the blood pressure cuff is 2 to 3 cm above the elbow or antecubital area gives you adequate room to place the stethoscope during the blood pressure reading. To hear the sounds of blood flow when the cuff deflates, place the stethoscope underneath the cuff and above the artery. 

If the stethoscope comes into contact with the cuff while taking the blood pressure reading, the sound of the cuff deflating may interfere with your ability to hear the proper reading.

172.

The steps for taking blood pressure by palpation include all the following, except:

  • Add 50 mm Hg of inflation once you can no longer palpate the radial pulse

  • Place the blood pressure cuff in the regular position and palpate the radial pulse

  • Inflate the cuff until you can no longer palpate the radial pulse

  • Slowly release pressure from the cuff while watching the gauge until you feel the radial pulse return

Correct answer: Add 50 mm Hg of inflation once you can no longer palpate the radial pulse

Inflate the blood pressure cuff while palpating the radial pulse until you can no longer feel the pulse. Then, add 30 mm Hg and slowly release pressure from the valve while watching the gauge. Document the reading on the gauge when you palpate the pulse return. 

173.

Emily is the clinical medical assistant who will be assisting Dr. Martinez during a minor surgical procedure in an ambulatory care facility. While the doctor is scrubbing and putting on gloves, she checks the Mayo stand that is covered by a sterile drape and instruments for the procedure.

As she surveys the procedure area, which of the following indicates that the sterile field is possibly contaminated?

  • Non-sterile gloves are positioned at the edge of the Mayo stand.

  • Sterile towels are placed on top of the draped Mayo stand.

  • Autoclaved forceps are positioned about two inches from the edge of the stand.

  • Contents from a sterile glove package have been dropped onto the center of the sterile field.

Correct answer: Non-sterile gloves are positioned at the edge of the Mayo stand.

Non-sterile gloves on a draped Mayo stand are a sign that the sterile field may be contaminated. Since they aren't sterile, they could harbor bacteria. Therefore, any surface they come in contact with is considered contaminated. Only sterile items should be placed on a sterile field, and they should be placed within one inch of the edge to maintain sterility.

Sterile towels, autoclaved forceps, and sterile gloves from a package should not raise concerns.

174.

What type of arrhythmia would you suspect in a patient whose ECG shows regular QRS complexes with extra P waves?

  • Atrial flutter

  • Sinus bradycardia

  • Ventricular tachycardia

  • Premature ventricular contractions

Correct answer: Atrial flutter

Extra P waves with regular QRS complexes could be a sign that the atria are contracting faster than the ventricles. This finding might be related to caffeine, cold medicine, or diet pills. It may also be a sign of cardiomyopathy, valve disease, or pulmonary embolism disease.

175.

If a medical office suspects that a service may not be covered under the patient's Medicare benefits plan, what must they provide to the patient?

  • An Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN)

  • A consent form verifying that the patient will take responsibility for the payment of services

  • An Absolute Account of Benefits Notice (AABN)

  • A list of other insurance plans that the patient may apply for that will cover the intended service 

Correct answer: An Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN)

An ABN is given to patients when the medical office is unsure whether Medicare will cover the intended service the patient needs. This does not need to be handed to patients who need services that are never covered by Medicare. 

The patient does not need to sign a consent form to take responsibility for payment. An AABN is not a form used for Medicare benefits notices. The medical office does not have to give the patient other insurance plan options. 

176.

How should a medical assistant handle a claim that is denied by the patient's insurance?

  • Follow the information provided in the remittance advice letter and resubmit the claim

  • Double-check the spelling of the patient's name and resubmit the claim

  • Consider the claim a write-off

  • Inform the patient that they are responsible for paying the balance on the denied claim

Correct answer: Follow the information provided in the remittance advice letter and resubmit the claim

The physician will receive a remittance advice (RA) letter with any denied claim that outlines the reasons the claim was denied and how the provider might be able to fix it. This letter should be followed and the claim resubmitted.

Reviewing key information on the claim, such as the patient's name and date of birth, is important for any denied claim but may not be the only reason the claim was denied. The claim should not be considered a write-off until all avenues for resubmittal and remittance have been explored, nor should the patient be informed that they are responsible for the bill.

177.

During a traumatic injury, which type of blood cell migrates to the injured site to help stop the bleeding?

  • Thrombocytes

  • Leukocytes

  • Erythrocytes

  • Granulocytes

Correct answer: Thrombocytes

Thrombocytes (platelets) rush to the site of a blood vessel injury and agglutinate (clump together) to control bleeding. It plays a chief role in homeostasis.

Leukocytes (white blood cells), including granulocytes, protect the body from invading pathogens. They are not the body's first line response to traumatic injury.

Erythrocytes (red blood cells) transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body.

178.

While processing billing statements for the week, you notice that a patient has passed away and has a balance due on their account. What happens next?

  • A bill is sent to the patient's estate

  • The patient's immediate family should be billed for the remaining balance

  • The charges are written off as a loss by the medical center

  • The charges should be billed to the deceased patient's last known insurance company

Correct answer: A bill is sent to the patient's estate

When a patient dies with outstanding medical bills, the medical center may bill the patient's estate for reimbursement. This happens either via allowances for final expenses in the patient's will or through probate court, which authorizes creditors to be paid from the sale of a patient's estate.

A deceased patient's family is not directly billed for outstanding charges, and neither is their last known insurance company. The charges may later be written off as a loss if collection attempts through the estate or probate are unsuccessful.

179.

In a medical office laboratory, a medical assistant is in charge of the refrigerator that stores specimens and test components. One day, the medical assistant discovers that the temperature inside the refrigerator is constantly higher than the authorized range of 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C). What is the best course of action?

  • Immediately address the temperature deviation, document it in the refrigerator temperature log, and take corrective action to ensure it falls within the recommended range

  • Continue using the refrigerator for storage, as occasional temperature variations are expected

  • Place a biohazard warning label on the refrigerator and store food and beverages, as long as they are kept separate from specimens

  • Ignore the temperature issue and document it in the refrigerator temperature log at the end of the week

Correct answer: Immediately address the temperature deviation, document it in the refrigerator temperature log, and take corrective action to ensure it falls within the recommended range

Maintaining the proper temperature range in the refrigerator is crucial for preserving the integrity of specimens and test components. If the temperature consistently exceeds the recommended range, immediate action should be taken to address the deviation. This includes documenting the issue in the refrigerator temperature log and taking corrective measures to bring the temperature back within the specified range. 

Ignoring the temperature issue or delaying corrective action can compromise the quality of stored specimens and test components.

180.

When coaching patients, a medical assistant (MA) should follow certain steps. Which of the following options should the MA do first?

  • Identify any potential barriers to learning

  • Evaluate the patient's learning as it progresses

  • Document the conversation

  • Coach the patient, explaining the topic in an appropriate amount of detail

Correct answer: Identify barriers to learning

When coaching a patient, the MA should go through these steps in order: 

  1. Identify the patient's educational needs
  2. Identify any potential barriers to learning
  3. Coach the patient, explaining the topic in an appropriate amount of detail
  4. Evaluate the patient's learning as it progresses
  5. Document the conversation
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