Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA) flashcards

Obstacles to effective communication caused by a person's feelings, attitudes, or psychological state, such as anger, fear, anxiety, or defensiveness.

• Can manifest as sarcasm, withdrawal, or hostility.
• Requires empathy and active listening to address.
• Can impede patient education and adherence.

Memory trick: Emotional, Environmental, Educational, Expressive: The 4 E's of Barriers.

The immediate actions to take following an accidental puncture from a contaminated sharp object.

• Focus on reducing pathogen exposure.
• Washing is the primary first aid step.
• Followed by reporting and medical evaluation.

Memory trick: Wash, Report, Evaluate, Document!

The technique used to eliminate air bubbles from a syringe before administering an injection.

• Ensures accurate medication dosing.
• Prevents potential complications.
• Involves tapping and expelling air.

Memory trick: Tap, Bubble Up, Push Out!

Any event that compromises the integrity of a sterile field or sterile items, rendering them non-sterile.

• Requires immediate action.
• Contamination means the entire field is non-sterile.
• A new sterile field must be established.

Memory trick: Touch it, Trash it, Redo it!

Antiseptics are used on living tissue to reduce microorganisms, while disinfectants are used on inanimate objects.

• Antiseptics are tissue-safe.
• Disinfectants are for surfaces.
• Some chemicals can be both, at different concentrations.

Memory trick: Antiseptic-Skin, Disinfectant-Surface!

Non-critical medical items, which only contact intact skin, require low-level disinfection to reduce microbial load.

• Contacts intact skin only.
• Low-level disinfection sufficient.
• Examples: stethoscopes, BP cuffs.

Memory trick: Critical Sterile, Semi-High, Non-Low Level Shy.

Different methods employed to reduce or eliminate microorganisms, varying in their effectiveness against spores.

• Sterilization: Kills all microbes, including spores.
• Disinfection: Kills most microbes, not spores.
• Antisepsis: Reduces microbes on living tissue.

Memory trick: Sterilize-All, Disinfect-Most, Antiseptic-Skin, Sanitize-Clean!

Practices and rules to ensure a sterile field remains free from contamination during a procedure.

• Never turn your back on a sterile field.
• Keep sterile items above waist/table level.
• Outer 1-inch border is non-sterile.

Memory trick: Face Forward, Stay High, 1-Inch Border!

An OSHA-mandated plan that details procedures to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including protocols for handling, storage, and disposal of infectious waste.

• OSHA requirement.
• Covers bloodborne pathogens.
• Includes waste management protocols.

Memory trick: Exposure Control: The Whole Infectious Role.

Specific disinfection protocols required to eliminate Clostridioides difficile spores from environmental surfaces.

• C. diff produces highly resistant spores.
• Alcohol and quats are ineffective against spores.
• Bleach is a recommended sporicidal agent.

Memory trick: C. diff needs Bleach, not Booze!

Guidelines for the safe use, placement, and disposal of sharps containers to prevent injuries.

• Must be puncture-resistant and leak-proof.
• Replaced when 3/4 full.
• Located at point of use, easily accessible.

Memory trick: Three-Quarters Full, No More!

Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis require airborne precautions, which involve placing them in a negative pressure room and healthcare workers wearing an N95 respirator.

• TB is airborne.
• Negative pressure room.
• N95 respirator required.

Memory trick: TB, Tiny Particles, Take Airborne Care.

A sterile field must always remain in direct observation. If a healthcare worker turns their back to it, the field is considered contaminated and must be re-established.

• Constant direct observation.
• Turning back breaks sterility.
• Must be discarded and reset.

Memory trick: Turn Your Back? Start From Scratch!

For instruments that cannot withstand high temperatures, ethylene oxide (EO) gas sterilization is an appropriate low-temperature chemical method to achieve sterility.

• Used for heat-sensitive items.
• Chemical sterilization method.
• Requires specialized equipment and aeration.

Memory trick: Heat-Sensitive? EO is the Easy Option.

Performing hand hygiene (washing or sanitizing) immediately after removing gloves and before any further patient interaction is the most critical step to prevent cross-contamination.

• Gloves are not foolproof.
• Contamination can occur during removal.
• Essential for patient and MA safety.

Memory trick: Gloves Off, Hands Clean, Before Next Scene.

The fundamental conditions required for an autoclave to effectively destroy all forms of microbial life, including spores.

• Utilizes moist heat (steam under pressure).
• Relies on specific time, temperature, and pressure.
• Destroys all microorganisms, including spores.

Memory trick: Triple-T P: Time, Temp, Pressure are Prime!

Bandages saturated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) are regulated medical waste and must be placed in a biohazard bag for proper disposal.

• Saturated with blood/OPIM.
• Regulated medical waste.
• Disposed of in biohazard (red) bags.

Memory trick: Bloody Bandage? Biohazard Bag it!

When cleaning clinical surfaces, always proceed from the least soiled (cleanest) to the most soiled (dirtiest) areas to prevent the spread of microorganisms.

• Prevents cross-contamination.
• Least to most soiled.
• Applies to disinfection too.

Memory trick: Cleanest First, Dirtiest Last, Don't Make it Fast.

To minimize surgical site infection, hair removal at the surgical site should be done using electric clippers immediately before the procedure, avoiding razors or depilatory creams.

• Clippers preferred over razors.
• Done just before surgery.
• Avoids skin irritation/micro-abrasions.

Memory trick: Clip Carefully, Cleanly Cut, Combat Contamination.

A 1:10 dilution of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) in water is a potent, broad-spectrum disinfectant effective against many pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, commonly used for non-porous surface disinfection in healthcare settings.

• Effective against bloodborne pathogens as per OSHA.
• Must be freshly prepared daily as its efficacy degrades over time.
• Requires proper ventilation due to fumes.

Memory trick: Bleach Brightens Bad Bugs, Keeping Clinics Clean.

To maintain sterility, open the first flap of a sterile package away from the body, then the side flaps, and finally the flap closest to the body, ensuring no part of the sterile field is crossed or touched inappropriately.

• Open away first.
• Avoid reaching over sterile field.
• Touch only outer wrapper with ungloved hands.

Memory trick: Away, Sides, Towards: The Sterile Door.

When cleaning after a patient with norovirus, wear utility gloves for durability, a gown to protect clothing from splashes, and a face shield for full facial protection against vomit/feces.

• Norovirus is highly contagious.
• Spread via fecal-oral route, vomit/diarrhea.
• Requires robust splash and contact protection.

Memory trick: Utility, Gown, Face: Noro's Gross, Protect Your Space.

A federal regulation designed to protect healthcare workers from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials.

• Mandated by OSHA.
• Focuses on employee safety.
• Covers exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Memory trick: OSHA BBP: Protect Workers from Bloody Pathogens!

For surfaces contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials, OSHA recommends a 1:10 dilution of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) for effective disinfection.

• 1:10 bleach solution is standard.
• Effective against a wide range of pathogens.
• Must be freshly prepared daily.

Memory trick: Bleach for Blood, Always Best Choice.

The specific order in which personal protective equipment should be put on to maximize protection and minimize self-contamination.

• Donning involves putting on PPE.
• Sequence protects cleaner items from dirtier ones.
• Gloves are typically donned last.

Memory trick: Go Man, Go! Eyes Last!

The process of confirming that a patient has a valid referral from their primary care provider before receiving specialist care or certain procedures, as required by their insurance plan.

• Required by many managed care plans (HMOs, PPOs).
• Ensures services are medically necessary and approved by the PCP.
• Prevents claim denials and delays in reimbursement.

Memory trick: Referrals Link Care, Preventing Denials.

Validation is the act of acknowledging and accepting a patient's feelings, thoughts, and experiences as legitimate and understandable, even if you don't fully agree with them.

• Builds rapport and trust.
• Helps patients feel heard and understood.
• Reduces defensiveness and promotes open communication.

Memory trick: Validate feelings, don't just 'fix' them.

An ICD-10-CM coding guideline stating that when a single disease process involves both an underlying condition (etiology) and a resulting symptom or complication (manifestation), the underlying condition is coded first, followed by the manifestation.

• Applies to 'code first' and 'use additional code' notes.
• Manifestation codes often have an asterisk or specific instructions.
• Ensures accurate reporting of the primary cause of illness.

Memory trick: Etiology Before Manifestation, Always The Rule.

A HIPAA authorization is a detailed document signed by a patient that permits a covered entity to use or disclose the patient's protected health information (PHI) for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations (TPO).

• Must be in plain language.
• Must specify the information to be disclosed, who can disclose it, and to whom.
• Must include an expiration date or event.
• Patient has the right to revoke the authorization in writing.

Memory trick: PHI needs Patient's Permission, not just a phone call.