CMA Practice Test 3 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of these would be best placed under the heading of “medical etiquette”?

The way you talk to a patient (Correct answer)
The way you decide on a patient’s treatment
Obeying the law regarding patient confidentiality
The way a patient’s medical fees are calculated

Correct answer: The way you talk to a patient

Medical etiquette refers to the customary code of polite behavior and professional conduct within the medical profession. It governs how medical professionals interact with patients, colleagues, and the public. The way you talk to a patient, demonstrating respect, empathy, and clear communication, is a prime example of good medical etiquette, fostering trust and a positive patient experience.

Question 2: A palpation examination is performed by…?

Feeling (Correct answer)
Striking
Looking
Drawing fluid

Correct answer: Feeling

A palpation examination is a diagnostic technique where a healthcare professional uses their hands and fingers to feel the patient's body. This method allows them to assess the size, shape, texture, tenderness, and consistency of organs, masses, or other body structures. It is a fundamental part of a physical examination, providing valuable diagnostic information.

Question 3: Which body part is not part of the acronym EENT?

Eye
Ear
Torso (Correct answer)
Throat

Correct answer: Torso

EENT is a common medical acronym that stands for Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat. It refers to the specific anatomical regions and medical specialties dealing with these areas. The torso, which is the main part of the human body excluding the head, neck, and limbs, is not included in this acronym.

Question 4: What area(s) of the brain are the most affected if a person is unable to understand written or verbal speech?

Weirnecke’s area (Correct answer)
Broca’s area
Occipital lobe
Parietal lobe
A and B

Correct answer: Weirnecke’s area

Wernicke's area is a crucial region in the brain, typically located in the left temporal lobe, that is primarily responsible for language comprehension. Damage to Wernicke's area results in Wernicke's aphasia, where individuals have significant difficulty understanding both written and spoken language, even though they may be able to speak fluently, albeit often nonsensically.

Question 5: Which of these terms means stopping breathing?

Abiosis
Adenitis
Arthralgia
Apnea (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Apnea

Apnea is a medical term derived from Greek, meaning 'without breath.' It refers to the temporary cessation of breathing, which can occur during sleep (sleep apnea) or as a symptom of various medical conditions. Understanding this term is fundamental in respiratory medicine and for diagnosing breathing disorders.

Question 6: What would result following an injury to the phrenic nerve?

An inability to stand
An irregular heart rate
An inability to control breathing (Correct answer)
An increase in body temperature
An increase in facial spasms

Correct answer: An inability to control breathing

The phrenic nerve is a crucial nerve that originates in the neck and extends down to innervate the diaphragm, the primary muscle responsible for breathing. An injury to the phrenic nerve can paralyze or weaken the diaphragm, leading to an inability to control breathing effectively. This can severely impair respiratory function and may necessitate mechanical ventilation.

Question 7: In law, what does “respondeat superior” mean?

An employer can be held responsible for employee actions (Correct answer)
Employers are not responsible for employee actions
Only employers are responsible for employee actions
Employees are the only ones responsible for their actions

Correct answer: An employer can be held responsible for employee actions

'Respondeat superior' is a Latin legal doctrine meaning 'let the master answer.' In medical law, it signifies that an employer, such as a hospital or clinic, can be held legally responsible for the negligent or wrongful actions of their employees when those actions occur within the scope of their employment. This doctrine ensures accountability and provides a means for injured parties to seek redress.

Question 8: What is a "tickler" system used for?

To interrogate the patient database
To alert staff to database errors
To organize patient billing
To remind patients of appointments (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To remind patients of appointments

A tickler system is a chronological filing system used as a reminder for future actions. In a medical office, it's commonly used to track and remind patients of upcoming appointments, follow-up visits, or routine screenings. This ensures patients receive timely care and helps manage the practice's schedule efficiently.

Question 9: Who has ownership of a patient's medical records?

The care provider (Correct answer)
The insurance company
The patient
The state medical board

Correct answer: The care provider

While patients have a right to access their medical information, the physical medical record itself (the paper or electronic file) is legally owned by the healthcare provider or facility that created it. This ownership allows the provider to maintain a complete and accurate history for ongoing care, legal compliance, and operational purposes. Patients own the information contained within, but not the physical document.

Question 10: A patient release is required if you are sending the patient's medical records to another party using which of these methods?

Registered mail
Fax (Correct answer)
Motorcycle courier
Hand delivery

Correct answer: Fax

A patient release (or authorization) is legally required when sharing protected health information (PHI) with another party, especially when using methods that are not entirely secure or where the recipient is not directly involved in the patient's immediate care. Faxing patient records requires a release to ensure patient consent and compliance with HIPAA regulations regarding privacy and security, as faxes can be intercepted or sent to the wrong recipient.

Question 11: What are MSDS?

Medical student discharge sheets
Material safety data sheets (Correct answer)
Medical staff duty sheets
Maintenance staff duty sheets

Correct answer: Material safety data sheets

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheets. These documents provide comprehensive information about hazardous materials, including their properties, potential hazards, safe handling procedures, and emergency measures. They are crucial for workplace safety, especially in healthcare settings where various chemicals are used, ensuring staff can safely manage and respond to chemical exposures.

Question 12: When making up invoices for insurance companies, ICD numbers should be used. What does ICD mean?

International classification of diseases (Correct answer)
Insurance company demands
Internal cash disbursement
Integral charge document

Correct answer: International classification of diseases

ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases. These are globally recognized codes used to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures recorded in conjunction with hospital care and outpatient visits. ICD codes are essential for accurate medical billing, tracking disease prevalence, and managing healthcare statistics, ensuring consistent documentation across different healthcare systems.

Question 13: What does asepsis mean?

Sterile
Free of disease causing agents (Correct answer)
Visually clean
All of the above

Correct answer: Free of disease causing agents

Asepsis refers to the absence of pathogenic microorganisms or disease-causing agents. It is a fundamental principle in healthcare to prevent infection by maintaining a sterile or clean environment, particularly during medical procedures. While 'sterile' implies the complete absence of all microorganisms, asepsis specifically focuses on preventing the presence of harmful ones to minimize infection risk.

Question 14: When washing your hands between procedures or duties, if using soap and water you should take at least…?

60 seconds (Correct answer)
30 seconds
40 seconds
15 seconds

Correct answer: 60 seconds

Proper handwashing with soap and water is a critical measure for infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare guidelines recommend scrubbing hands for at least 60 seconds (or 1 minute) to effectively remove transient microorganisms. This duration ensures sufficient friction and contact time with the soap to dislodge and rinse away pathogens, significantly reducing the risk of disease transmission.

Question 15: A patient may be placed at risk of electrocution during an ECG if you have not ensured that the machine is…?

Cleaned
Calibrated
Grounded (Correct answer)
All of these

Correct answer: Grounded

During an ECG, the patient is connected to an electrical device, making proper grounding essential for safety. Grounding provides a safe path for stray electrical currents to flow to the earth, preventing electrical shocks to the patient or operator. An ungrounded machine poses a significant risk of electrocution, highlighting the importance of this safety measure.

Question 16: During an ECG test you should monitor the patient's…?

Breathing
Heart rate
Temperature
All of these (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of these

During an ECG test, it is crucial to monitor the patient's overall condition, not just the heart rhythm. This includes observing their breathing for distress, checking their heart rate for abnormalities, and noting any changes in temperature or other vital signs. Comprehensive monitoring helps ensure patient safety and the accuracy of the test results by identifying any adverse reactions or complications.

Question 17: Drugs designed for pain relief are designated what?

Antiseizure
Anti-convulsive
Analgesic (Correct answer)
Anti-infective

Correct answer: Analgesic

Analgesics are a class of drugs specifically designed to relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness. They work through various mechanisms to reduce the perception of pain, ranging from over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen to prescription opioids. This classification helps healthcare professionals select the appropriate medication for a patient's pain management needs.

Question 18: When a medicine is a preparation of oil suspended in fluid it is known as what?

An emulsion (Correct answer)
A suspension
A tincture
A dilution

Correct answer: An emulsion

An emulsion is a stable mixture of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, where one liquid is dispersed in the other in the form of tiny droplets. In medicine, emulsions are often used to formulate drugs that are poorly soluble in water, making them easier to administer and absorb. This formulation allows for effective delivery of medications that would otherwise separate.

Question 19: Which of these is used to drain fluid from the body?

Catheter (Correct answer)
Intravenous drip
Injection
All of these

Correct answer: Catheter

A catheter is a thin, flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to drain fluids, administer fluids, or perform other medical procedures. For example, a urinary catheter is commonly used to drain urine from the bladder, while other types can drain fluid from wounds or body cavities. This makes catheters essential tools for fluid management in various medical contexts.

Question 20: When sterilizing instruments using an autoclave, the machine should be filled with what?

Boiled water
Distilled water (Correct answer)
Tap water
Alcohol

Correct answer: Distilled water

When sterilizing instruments using an autoclave, distilled water should be used. Tap water contains minerals and impurities that can build up inside the autoclave, leading to corrosion, scaling, and damage to the machine over time. Distilled water prevents these issues, ensuring the longevity of the equipment and effective sterilization by preventing residue formation on instruments.

CMA Practice Test 3

Which of these would be best placed under the heading of “medical etiquette”?