Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam
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Question 1 of 5.
A medical assistant is caring for a patient whose ankle is swollen and tender from a recent injury. Which of the following treatments should the assistant anticipate the provider to order?
A. Administer direct pressure to the area.
B. Wrap the ankle in a dry cold pack.
C. Soak the ankle in ice water.
D. Apply a dry hot pack to the ankle.
Explanation: For acute injuries causing swelling and tenderness, the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is commonly used. Applying a dry cold pack (ice pack) wrapped to prevent direct skin contact is appropriate to reduce swelling and pain. Administering direct pressure (A) is for active bleeding, not swelling from an injury. Soaking the ankle in ice water (C) could be too intense and risk frostbite. Applying a hot pack (D) is generally avoided in acute injuries as heat can increase swelling and inflammation; heat is usually used for chronic pain or muscle stiffness.
Question 2 of 5.
A medical assistant is performing medical asepsis. Which of the following tasks should the assistant complete before and after working with each patient?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Donning gloves
C. Hand sanitization
D. Doffing gloves
Explanation: Hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub) is the single most important and mandatory practice to perform before and after working with *each and every* patient in a medical setting. This is the cornerstone of medical asepsis and infection control. Donning (B) and doffing (D) gloves are performed when needed for specific tasks involving potential exposure to body fluids, not necessarily for every patient interaction. Hand sanitization (C) is a component of hand hygiene but is not as comprehensive as the general term.
Question 3 of 5.
Which of the following is the manufacturer's recommended method of storage for insulin?
A. Store at room temperature.
B. Store in the refrigerator.
C. Store in direct sunlight.
D. Store in the freezer.
Explanation: Unopened insulin vials and pens should typically be stored in the refrigerator (not frozen) to maintain their potency until their expiration date. Once opened, insulin can generally be kept at room temperature for a specific period (usually 28 days, depending on the type), but long-term storage for unopened vials is refrigeration. Direct sunlight (C) or freezing (D) can damage the insulin and reduce its effectiveness. Therefore, the general manufacturer's recommendation for long-term storage is refrigeration.
Question 4 of 5.
Which of the following information is included in a computerized provider order entry?
A. Diagnostic tests
B. Problem-oriented list
C. Next of kin
D. Follow-up appointment date
Explanation: Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) is a system that allows healthcare providers to directly enter medical orders (such as medications, laboratory tests, radiology orders, and consultations) into a computer system, replacing paper and verbal orders. Diagnostic tests are a key component of these orders. A problem-oriented list (B) is part of a patient's medical record. Next of kin (C) is demographic data. Follow-up appointment dates (D) are part of scheduling, not typically the order entry system.
Question 5 of 5.
Which of the following may be accessed by multiple users and health care organizations?
A. Electronic health record
B. Patient portal
C. Protected health information
D. Patient health record
Explanation: An electronic health record (EHR) system is designed to be accessible by multiple authorized users (e.g., doctors, nurses, medical assistants, billing staff) within a single healthcare organization and, increasingly, across different healthcare organizations through interoperability features. This allows for a comprehensive, shared view of a patient's health information. A patient portal (B) is accessed by the patient. Protected health information (PHI) (C) is the data itself, not a system. A patient health record (D) is a general term; EHR specifies the electronic, shareable system.