Practice Test Questions Flashcards
The medical assistant should attempt to answer all incoming telephone calls:
a. within 30 seconds.
b. by the third ring.
c. by the second ring.
d. within 10 seconds.
by the third ring
Changing the voice pitch to avoid a monotonous tone that implies boredom is called:
a. volume.
b. inflection.
c. diction.
d. pronunciation.
inflection
Active immunity is best obtained by:
a. maternal antibodies acquired by the baby from breast milk.
b. producing antibodies as a result of having a disease.
c. maternal antibodies passed from the mother to the baby in the womb.
d. immunization with antibodies.
producing antibodies as a result of having a disease
The growth hormone is produced by the:
a. thyroid.
b. thymus.
c. pituitary.
d. hypothalamus.
pituitary
Which of the following is TRUE regarding the appointment book?
a. It should be treated as a legal document
b. Cancellations are deleted from the book if they reschedule
c. No-shows should be erased since they did not arrive for their appointment
d. The daily pages are shredded at the end of the day
It should be treated as a legal document
Due to occasional patient dismissals from medical practices, all records of patient appointments become evidence in medicolegal cases.
Which of the following statements is TRUE of appointment scheduling guidelines?
a. Walk-in patients are given priority ahead of patients who have been waiting
b. New patients should be scheduled for an abbreviated first visit just to get to know the physician
c. New patients are usually allotted more time than established patients
d. Regular patients are allotted more time than new patients
New patients are usually allotted more time than established patients
The standard margin used for a business letter is
1 inch
In a professional letter, the author’s keyed signature is typed:
four lines below the complimentary closing
Tthe horizontal line on the ECG paper represents:
time
You would immediately report to the physician all the following EXCEPT:
a. premature atrial contractions (PAC)
b. ventricular tachycardia (V Tach)
c. bigeminy
d. ventricular fibrillation (V Fib)
premature atrial contractions (PAC)
Remember - PAC gets a pass!
V Tach, V Fib, and Bigeminy are all considered life threatening.
A picture of a heart with a lightning bolt in the center is a symbol for a(n):
AED
What is the type of shock caused by severe allergic reaction?
anaphylactic
Funds placed in a banking account are called a(n):
deposit
A list of procedural charges developed from fees charged by most of the physicians in the same region or geographic area is referred to as:
a. coordination of benefits.
b. explanation of benefits.
c. utilization review.
d. usual, customary, and reasonable.
usual, customary, and reasonable
The defense mechanism used when a person transfers negative feelings to something or someone unrelated to a negative situation is:
a. projection.
b. denial.
c. introjection.
d. displacement.
displacement
When communicating with pediatric patients:
a. Avoid allowing children to touch any medical equipment.
b. Use slang to help the child understand.
c. Always state the truth.
d. Position yourself at a higher level than the child.
Always state the truth
The microscopic examination of urine includes the:
a. presence of crystals.
b. pH of the urine.
c. glucose concentration in the urine.
d. specific gravity of the urine.
presence of crystals
Plasma is described as:
a. clear yellow liquid portion of blood.
b. 1% of whole blood that contains the white blood cells.
c. red part of the blood after centrifugation.
d. bottom layer of blood after centrifugation.
clear yellow liquid portion of blood
Failure to act when duty indicates, resulting in or causing harm, is referred to as:
a. nonfeasance.
b. standard of care.
c. misfeasance.
d. malfeasance.
nonfeasance
Nonfeasance is failure to act when there was a duty to act, resulting in or causing harm. Malfeasance is performing an improper act that causes harm, and misfeasance is an improper performance of an act that causes harm. The standard of care is the quality or measure of care that is recognized as acceptable by usage.
Sexual harassment is addressed in:
a. the Healthcare Portability and Accountability Act.
b. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
c. the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
d. the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from sexual harassment and hostile work environment. The office of the EEOC has created guidelines on sexual harassment and the liability for the employer in regard to this.
The largest section in the CPT codes is:
a. E&M.
b. Surgery.
c. Radiology.
d. Medicine.
Surgery
The primary coding manual for procedures and services performed by doctors in medical offices is commonly called:
a. HCPCS.
b. DRG.
c. ICD.
d. CPT.
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
When a patient has a condition that is not provided for or covered under his or her health insurance benefits, it is called a(n):
a. exclusion.
b. deduction.
c. waiting period.
d. review.
exclusion
What is the correct sequence for filing using reverse chronologic order?
When filing in reverse chronologic order, dates from present will be in front of previous year dates. For example, office visit entries from June of 2008 would be in front of visits from December 2006.
A preexisting condition is one that:
the patient had prior to obtaining health insurance
The medical record material is the property of:
a. patient’s family.
b. health-care provider.
c. insurance company.
d. patient.
the health care provider
The term laparoscopy means:
inspection of the abdominal organs through a lighted scope
The suffix -ad means:
toward
The term arteriostenosis means:
narrowing of an artery
Treating all blood and bodily fluids as contaminated is a standard enforced by:
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
The infection ringworm is caused by what type of pathogen:
fungus
Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding setting up a sterile tray?
a. Maintain a border of at least one-half inch between nonsterile and sterile areas.
b. Do not pass contaminated or nonsterile items over a sterile field.
c. Pour liquids such as sterile saline into a sterile waterproof container on the sterile field.
d. Do not lean or reach over sterile field.
Maintain a border of at least one-half inch between nonsterile and sterile areas.
A border from 1 inch inside the sterile border; anything outside the 1-inch border is considered nonsterile. Do not lean or reach over sterile field.
What are adhesive materials used in minor lacerations or as a follow-up to sutures to hold wound edges together?
a. Staples
b. Montgomery straps
c. Steri-Strips
d. Ligatures
Steri-Strips
Vitamin B-12 is used to treat which of the following:
a. osteoporosis.
b. night blindness.
c. clotting disorders.
d. scurvy.
e. pernicious anemia.
pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia is a disorder in which the body cannot absorb vitamin B12. The body uses vitamin B12 to help produce red blood cells (RBC). Patients with pernicious anemia are treated with injections of vitamin B12.
The primary function of vitamin B12 is to promote what body process?
red blood cell (RBC) formation
Which type of patient education training materials would benefit a blind patient?
Braille materials
When a diabetic patient does not want to learn to give himself insulin injections, it is best to:
a. Refer the patient to a diabetic support group or a social worker who specializes in diabetes.
b. Ask the patient to return to the office only when ready to comply with the instruction.
c. Recommend that the patient see an endocrinologist.
d. Train a member of the patient’s family to do it.
e. Notify the patient’s physician for further assistance.
Notify the patient’s physician for further assistance.
If a diabetic patient is refusing to comply with insulin injections, it is important to notify the physician who will consider options. Another person close to the patient may be identified to learn to give the injections or another option selected.
Providing patient education on immunizations is an example of:
a. preventing illness.
b. restoring health.
c. conducting a treatment.
d. coping with impaired function.
e. maintaining and promoting health.
preventing illness (via preventative education)
Written patient education materials must:
a. Be explained to the patient.
b. Come from a credible source.
c. Include medical terms.
d. Be available in Braille.
e. Contain an area for the patient to write questions.
come from a credible source
The measurement of height and weight is referred to as:
a. auscultation.
b. inspection.
c. palpation.
d. mensuration.
mensuration
Hypertension is now considered anything over:
a. 139/89.
b. 140/90.
c. 130/88.
d. 129/84.
139/89
The medical word that means to take away pain or to be free from pain is:
a. algesia.
b. angina.
c. analgesia.
d. anesthesia.
analgesia
The common route for tuberculosis skin testing is:
a. intramuscular.
b. intradermal.
c. intravenous.
d. subcutaneous.
e. oral.
intradermal
What type of therapy would be used for a newborn baby with jaundice?
a. Thermotherapy
b. Hydrotherapy
c. Ultrasound heat therapy
d. Ultraviolet lamps
Ultraviolet lamps
Hydrotherapy includes the use of:
a. infrared.
b. exercises.
c. diathermy.
d. whirlpool.
whirlpool
The term “costal” refers to the:
a. skin.
b. wrist.
c. head.
d. ribs.
ribs
The mucous membrane that lines the uterus is called the:
a. endometrium.
b. peritoneum.
c. periosteum.
d. epithelium.
endometrium
The medical term for the upper jaw bone is the:
a. hyoid.
b. maxilla.
c. mandible.
d. ethmoid.
maxilla
The term “nephrolysis” means:
a. fixation of the renal pelvis.
b. destruction of kidney tissue.
c. surgical repair of the kidneys.
d. incision into the kidneys.
destruction of kidney tissue
The prefix con- means:
a. bad.
b. condition.
c. outside.
d. with.
with
Remember: a pair of cons work together
Authorization is usually not needed to give information to a(n):
a. attorney.
b. spouse.
c. custodial parent of a minor.
d. Patient’s insurance company.
custodial parent of a minor
When a patient telephones the office with an emergency situation, the first step is to:
a. Access the patient’s medical record.
b. Instruct caller to hang up and activate EMS.
c. Ask the patient if he or she is taking any medications.
d. Alert the physician.
Alert the physician
Oxygenated blood is usually carried by:
a. atria.
b. venules.
c. arteries.
d. veins.
arteries
The lobe of the brain that contains the area that interprets sound is the:
a. frontal.
b. temporal.
c. parietal.
d. occipital.
temporal
Remember: temporal is similar to timpani which creates a sound, so temporal = sound
When making an initial appointment over the telephone, for a new patient, it is important to obtain the:
a. Patient’s date of birth.
b. name of the patient’s insurance plan.
c. Patient’s place of employment.
d. amount of co-payment due from the patient.
Name of the patient’s insurance plan
The filing system used as a reminder of things to do by a certain date or time is referred to as a/an:
a. appointment diary.
b. appointment file.
c. recall file.
d. tickler file.
tickler file
Which of these represents the correct spelling of the term?
a. Ophtalmology
b. Ophtholmology
c. Ophthalmology
d. Opthalmology
Ophthalmology
The vertical line on the ECG paper represents:
a. time.
b. small blocks.
c. large blocks.
d. voltage.
voltage
A cardiac stress test requires a(n):
a. 12-lead ECG.
b. echocardiogram.
c. treadmill.
d. cardiac angiogram.
treadmill
The type of shock resulting from loss of blood is:
a. hypovolemic.
b. traumatic.
c. septic.
d. anaphylactic.
hypovolemic
A percentage of each employee’s income paid by the employer for an unemployment fund is referred to as:
a. Employers’ Compensation Fund.
b. FUTA.
c. FICA.
d. Social Security.
FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act)Federal
Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) is a percentage of the employee’s income paid by the employer into an unemployment fund.
The listing of charges for a medical practice is called the:
a. fee schedule.
b. UCR.
c. claim form.
d. RVU.
fee schedule
When communicating with a sight-impaired patient, it is important to:
a. Raise your voice to assure the patient hears you.
b. Use open body language.
c. Transport the patient in a wheelchair to avoid an accident.
d. Tell the patient what you are about to do and what it involves.
Tell the patient what you are about to do and what it involves
If a patient does not speak English, you should try to communicate by:
a. only communicating with the patient if accompanied by someone who speaks fluent English.
b. using gestures to demonstrate information.
c. raising your voice to increase understanding.
d. shouting at the patient.
using gestures to demonstrate information
The blood test used to test kidney function is:
a. complete blood count.
b. human chorionic gonadotropin.
c. sedimentation rate.
d. blood urea nitrogen.
blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Advance directives include a:
a. advance payment for a procedure.
b. notarized will.
c. living memorial.
d. living will.
living will
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people reasonable accommodations:
a. in pay.
b. for age.
c. in employment.
d. for race.
in employment
A person who has received care from the physician or another physician of the same specialty in the same group practice within 3 years is a(n):
a. minor patient.
b. new patient.
c. established patient.
d. recalled patient.
established patient
ICD-9 coding that identifies health-care encounters for reasons other than illness is called:
a. E codes.
b. fifth digits.
c. V codes.
d. modifiers.
V codes
The amount of money paid by an individual for a health benefits policy is the:
a. premium.
b. coinsurance.
c. co-payment.
d. deductible.
premium
The assignment of benefits means that the:
a. Patient will pay a lower co-payment.
b. Provider will accept the insurance remittance as full payment.
c. Provider will receive the full fee for service.
d. Patient will not be covered for certain services provided.
Provider will accept the insurance remittance as full payment
Proper patient charting requires following the “C’s” of charting. One of these “C” features is that the charting must be:
a. computerized.
b. complex.
c. clear.
d. closed.
clear
Which of the following is not an appropriate procedure to insure proper maintenance of medical records and to help avoid legal issues?
a. Sending letters to patients to notify of withdrawal of care
b. Delay in filing test results
c. Documenting any broken or missed appointments
d. Notation of patient’s noncompliance with the treatment plan
delay in filing test results
The term “intravascular” means:
a. inside a cell.
b. within a vessel.
c. outside the artery.
d. inside a valve.
within a vessel
The medical term for fainting is:
a. anaphylaxis.
b. sepsis.
c. shock.
d. syncope.
syncope
The medical term meaning inflammation of the inside lining of the heart is:
a. intracardial.
b. intracardiosis.
c. endocarditis.
d. endopathy.
endocarditis
The bacteria normally found in the intestinal tract but can cause a urinary tract infection if introduced through contamination is:
a. Bacillus anthracis.
b. Treponema pallidum.
c. Clostridium tetani.
d. Escherichia coli.
Escherichia coli
Which of the following would NOT be performed when doing a surgical handwash?
a. Apply hand lotion.
b. Remove jewelry.
c. Dry with sterile towel.
d. Use cuticle stick on nails.
apply hand lotion
The first step in setting up a sterile field is to:
a. Fill a sterile syringe with local anesthetic agent.
b. Pour solutions that will be used during the procedure.
c. Cleanse the appropriate patient body area.
d. Wash your hands.
wash your hands
Suture scissors are used to:
a. Cut suture material.
b. Make an incision.
c. Remove jagged edges from a laceration site.
d. Cut tissues.
cut suture material
Which of the following is TRUE of carbohydrates?
a. Foods with sugar and starch do not have any carbohydrates.
b. Carbohydrates are optional and not necessary in the recommended daily diet.
c. Carbohydrates are either complete or incomplete.
d. Carbohydrates produce 4 calories per gram.
e. Carbohydrates produce 9 calories per gram.
Carbohydrates produce 4 calories per gram
Trace minerals include:
a. sodium.
b. zinc.
c. potassium.
d. calcium.
zinc
When the medical assistant is trying to reinforce verbal instructions for a patient, it is recommended to also:
a. Reassure the patient using constant therapeutic touch.
b. Ask the patient to call you in a couple of days to see if there are any questions.
c. Have the front office staff explain medical procedures.
d. Provide the patient with written instructions.
e. Explain the directions in the form of pronounced body language.
Provide the patient with written instructions.
The affective domain of learning involves:
a. values.
b. mental and physical abilities.
c. knowledge.
d. comprehension.
e. sensory skills.
values
A method to reevaluate the effectiveness of a patient education plan is by:
a. documenting in the medical record.
b. providing a list of resources.
c. sending the patient a questionnaire.
d. showing a DVD.
e. conducting a follow-up telephone call.
conducting a follow-up telephone call
The pulse point located on the wrist is the:
a. dorsalis pedis.
b. popliteal.
c. radial.
d. femoral.
radial
The average adult respiration rate is:
a. 8 to 12 per minute.
b. 10 to 20 per minute.
c. 12 to 20 per minute.
d. 16 to 24 per minute.
12 to 20 per minute
A common example of an antidiarrheal is:
a. Coumadin.
b. Compazine.
c. Lomotil.
d. Tegretol.
Lomotil
Which of the following is good practice when using a transfer belt?
a. The belt is safely used for all patients who have abdominal, back, and rib conditions.
b. The belt is buckled over the patient’s clothes around the waist at the midabdominal area.
c. The belt should not be used to assist in lifting a patient.
d. The belt is buckled over the patient’s clothes around the hip area.
The belt is buckled over the patient’s clothes around the waist at the midabdominal area.
The stomach is located between the:
a. esophagus and gall bladder.
b. esophagus and duodenum.
c. larynx and gall bladder.
d. trachea and pharynx.
esophagus and duodenum.
The term “plantar” refers to the:
a. back of the knee.
b. sole of the foot.
c. palm of the hand.
d. kneecap.
sole of the foot
The term “meningitis” means:
a. swelling of the brain and spinal cord.
b. pain in the meninges and spinal cord.
c. destruction of the tissue covering the spinal cord.
d. inflammation of the membranes covering the brain.
inflammation of the membranes covering the brain
