AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Test

The patient’s symptoms of night blindness and dry, scaly skin are classic signs of Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and mucous membranes. A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables can lead to this deficiency, as these foods are primary sources of Vitamin A and beta-carotene, which the body converts into the vitamin. It is crucial for medical assistants to recognize these symptoms and understand their association with diet to provide proper nutritional guidance and care.

Vitamin D deficiency typically presents with symptoms related to bone health such as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults due to its role in calcium absorption. Vitamin E deficiency is rare but may cause neuromuscular problems such as ataxia or muscle weakness. Vitamin C deficiency is known for causing scurvy, which includes symptoms like bleeding gums, weakness, and bruising, not night blindness or skin issues.

The correct answer is 'Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels' because these tests measure the concentration of waste products in the blood, specifically creatinine and urea nitrogen, which are filtered by the kidneys. High levels can indicate reduced kidney function as the filtration rate decreases, allowing these substances to accumulate in the bloodstream. GFR is an excellent indicator of kidney function, but it is not measured directly; instead, it is estimated from the serum creatinine with an equation that accounts for age, body size and gender. Complete Blood Count (CBC) is not specific to kidney function but rather evaluates overall health and screens for a variety of disorders by examining the components of blood, including both white and red blood cells. Urinalysis is a broad test that assesses urine for multiple disorders but alone doesn't provide comprehensive information on the glomerular filtration rate.

If the sterilization indicator strip has not changed color, it suggests that the sterilization process may have been ineffective, and the instruments may not be sterile. The best course of action is to reprocess the instruments to ensure they are safe for use on patients. Using the instruments without reprocessing them poses a risk of infection, and documenting the incident without taking further action does not resolve the possibility of contaminated instruments.

For patients with managed care insurance plans, medical assistants must verify that a follow-up appointment, especially after a specialized service like orthopedic surgery, has been authorized by the insurance provider. If the medical assistant fails to confirm this authorization, the patient may be responsible for the cost of the visit, or the provider may not be reimbursed by the insurance company. Referral confirmation would only be necessary if the patient were being sent to see another specialist rather than returning to their original provider.

Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, often indicates a liver problem or bile duct obstruction and requires further clinical assessment. It is important for a medical assistant to recognize this sign and report it immediately to the healthcare provider for further evaluation. It would not be appropriate to proceed with patient reassurance without provider assessment, offer the patient water, or ignore the finding as these actions do not address the potential underlying health concern.

A clinic progress note is used to document the details of a patient's visit, including the medical care provided and any changes in the patient’s condition or treatment. This record is vital for continuity of care, allowing healthcare professionals to track the patient's progress over time. The correct answer reflects the direct purpose of a progress note. The other answers refer to elements that may be included in a progress note or aspects of patient interaction that are not the primary function of a clinic progress note.

A signed release of information form is required by law to protect patient privacy. It ensures that the patient has given consent for their medical records to be shared with another healthcare provider. Alternative documents like a verbal consent, a billing statement, or an email request are not sufficient on their own to meet legal requirements for the transfer of protected health information under HIPAA regulations.

The correct referral for a patient with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis would be a rheumatologist. While a dermatologist specializes in skin conditions and could manage psoriasis effectively, a rheumatologist is trained to treat joint disorders as well as the skin manifestations related to psoriatic arthritis. Consequently, a rheumatologist is better suited to manage the comprehensive care required by a patient with both skin and joint symptoms. An immunologist, although knowledgeable about immune system disorders, would not be the primary specialty for this condition. Although some internal medicine physicians might manage mild cases, they do not specialize in psoriatic arthritis specifically.

Unusual fatigue and a dry cough are common side effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, a class of medications typically used to treat hypertension. It is important to note these side effects and report them to the healthcare provider as the medication may need to be adjusted or switched. Beta-blockers can cause fatigue but are less likely to cause a cough; Calcium channel blockers may cause peripheral edema; Diuretics can lead to electrolyte imbalances but cough and fatigue are not common side effects.

A medical assistant should ensure the patient has refrained from eating, smoking, or consuming caffeine for a certain period before the test to prevent any interference with the test results or the patient's performance during the test. Wearing comfortable clothing and proper footwear is important since the patient will be exercising, typically either walking or running on a treadmill, or pedaling a stationary bike. Informing the patient to rest and avoid strenuous activity prior to the test is not the best answer as it can be part of regular instructions but does not address the immediate preparation for the test. Advising the patient to withhold all medications could be detrimental, as some medications should be continued; such instruction must come directly from the patient's healthcare provider.

In medical coding, a modifier provides additional information about the performed service or procedure without changing the definition of the main code itself. Modifiers can indicate various circumstances, such as a service alteration, a bilateral procedure, or a more complex service.

Modifiers are used in procedural coding to provide additional information about a procedure code, such as altering a service without changing its definition. Upcoding and downcoding refer to billing practices that inaccurately represent the services provided, and bundling/unbundling of charges refers to combining or separating charges for services.

The subjective data section of a medical record is essential for capturing the patient's personal experience of their illness. It includes the patient's account of the history and course of the present illness which is crucial for establishing a diagnosis. Accurate documentation must encompass all elements of the patient's experience of their health concerns, including details like when the problem started, the nature of the pain (sharp, dull, throbbing, etc.), the specific location, what other symptoms they are experiencing, and what factors make these symptoms better or worse. This nuanced information guides clinical decision-making and personalized patient care.

The correct action is to immediately report the temperature discrepancy to your supervisor. Medications that require refrigeration typically need to be stored between 36°F and 46°F. If the temperature is outside of this range, it can affect the potency and safety of the medications. It is critical that this issue is addressed swiftly to prevent patient harm. Removing the expired medications would not address the temperature issue, recalibrating the thermostat may not correct the problem if there's a mechanical failure, and waiting for a temperature change does not mitigate the immediate risk to medication integrity.

A regular pulse rhythm signifies that there is consistent timing between beats, displaying a steady heart rate which is important for indicating stable cardiac function. Irregular rhythms can be signs of arrhythmias or other cardiac conditions that may require further medical evaluation.