RMA 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 conventional rules of polite behavior and professional conduct within the medical profession. This includes how healthcare professionals interact with patients, colleagues, and the public, emphasizing courtesy, respect, and professionalism. The way you talk to a patient, demonstrating empathy and clear communication, is a prime example of medical etiquette.

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 performed by feeling with the hands. Healthcare professionals use palpation to assess the size, shape, texture, tenderness, and consistency of organs, tissues, and other body structures. This method provides valuable tactile information that aids in diagnosis.

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

Eye
Ear
Torso (Correct answer)
Throat

Correct answer: Torso

The acronym EENT stands for Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat, referring to the medical specialty that deals with these specific body parts. The torso, which is the main part of the human body excluding the head, neck, and limbs, is not included in this acronym. Understanding common medical acronyms is essential for clear communication in healthcare.

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, located in the temporal lobe of the brain, is primarily responsible for language comprehension. Damage to this area can lead to Wernicke's aphasia, where an individual has difficulty understanding both written and spoken language, even though they may be able to speak fluently (though often nonsensically). Broca's area, in contrast, is involved in speech production.

Question 5: Which of these terms means stopping breathing?

Abiosis
Adenitis
Arthralgia
Apnea (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Apnea

The term 'apnea' means the temporary cessation of breathing. This can occur during sleep (sleep apnea), or it can be a symptom of various medical conditions. Understanding this medical term is crucial for diagnosing and treating respiratory issues.

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 would impair the diaphragm's function, leading to an inability to control breathing. This can result in serious respiratory distress or failure.

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

In legal terms, 'respondeat superior' is a doctrine that means 'let the master answer.' It holds an employer or principal legally responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee or agent if those acts occur within the scope of their employment. This principle is significant in medical law, where a healthcare facility can be held liable for the negligence of its staff.

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 reminder system used in medical offices to prompt action on a future date. Its primary function is to ensure that important tasks, such as reminding patients of upcoming appointments or scheduling follow-up care, are not overlooked. This helps maintain patient compliance and efficient office operations.

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 is legally owned by the healthcare provider or facility that created it. This ownership allows the provider to maintain a complete and accurate history of care, which is crucial for continuity of treatment and legal documentation. Patients, however, have the right to obtain copies of their records.

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

When transmitting patient medical records to another party, a patient release (or authorization) is generally required to comply with HIPAA regulations, regardless of the method. However, faxing is specifically highlighted here because it's a common method of electronic transmission where unauthorized access is a significant risk if not handled carefully. While other methods like hand delivery or registered mail also require authorization, faxing often involves sending information to a machine that might be in an unsecured location, making the release form critical for privacy and legal compliance.

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 substances, including their properties, potential hazards, safety precautions, and emergency procedures. They are essential for workplace safety, ensuring that staff are aware of how to safely handle and store chemicals found in a medical environment.

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. This system provides a standardized coding of diseases, signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases. Medical offices use ICD codes on invoices and claims to insurance companies to describe the patient's diagnosis, which is crucial for proper billing and reimbursement.

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 disease-causing microorganisms, or pathogens. It is a state of being free from infection or infectious material. This concept is fundamental in healthcare to prevent the spread of infections, distinguishing it from merely being 'visually clean' or 'sterile,' which implies a complete absence of all microorganisms.

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

According to guidelines from organizations like the CDC, thorough handwashing with soap and water should last at least 20 seconds, but in a clinical setting between procedures or duties, a more rigorous approach is often recommended. A 60-second duration ensures sufficient time for friction and lathering to effectively remove transient microorganisms and reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. This extended time is a best practice for maintaining optimal hygiene in a medical environment.

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

An ECG machine must be properly grounded to prevent electrical shock or electrocution to the patient and operator. Grounding provides a safe path for stray electrical currents to flow into the earth, minimizing the risk of electrical hazards. Failing to ensure proper grounding can create a dangerous situation, especially when dealing with sensitive medical equipment connected directly to a patient.

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, which includes their breathing, heart rate, and temperature. While the ECG specifically measures electrical activity of the heart, changes in these other vital signs can indicate patient discomfort, anxiety, or potential complications. Comprehensive monitoring ensures patient safety and helps interpret the ECG results in context.

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

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

Correct answer: Analgesic

Drugs designed for pain relief are known as analgesics. This category of medications works by various mechanisms to reduce or eliminate the sensation of pain. Examples include over-the-counter options like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as prescription opioids.

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

When a medicine is a preparation of oil suspended in fluid, it is known as an emulsion. Emulsions are heterogeneous mixtures of two immiscible liquids, where one liquid is dispersed in the other in the form of tiny droplets. This formulation is often used for medications that are not soluble in water, improving their palatability or absorption.

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 flexible tube inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. Its primary use in this context is to drain fluids, such as urine from the bladder or fluid from a wound. Intravenous drips and injections administer substances, rather than drain them.

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, the machine should be filled with distilled water. Distilled water prevents the buildup of mineral deposits and scale inside the autoclave and on the instruments, which can occur with tap water. This ensures the longevity of the equipment and the effectiveness of the sterilization process by avoiding residue that could harbor microorganisms or interfere with steam penetration.

RMA Practice Test 3

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