AMCA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AMCA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which scheduling system allows patients to arrive at any time during a set window rather than at a specific appointment time? → Open-access scheduling
2. Which of the following is NOT an acceptable patient identification step before blood collection? → Checking the patient's insurance card for identity
3. A patient who ingested an unknown substance calls the clinic. Which number should the medical assistant advise them to call? → 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control Center)
4. What does the abbreviation 'PRN' mean on a medication order? → As needed
5. Which type of consent is implied when a patient extends their arm for a routine blood draw? → Implied consent
6. Which personal protective equipment (PPE) combination is required when there is a risk of blood splatter during an emergency procedure? → Gloves, gown, and face shield/mask
7. In the correct Order of Draw, which tube is collected FIRST during a multi-tube draw? → Blood culture bottles
8. A patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis should be placed in which type of room? → An airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) with negative air pressure
9. Which situation requires mandatory reporting regardless of patient confidentiality? → A patient presents with injuries consistent with domestic abuse
10. A patient's chart shows a blood pressure reading of 142/92 mmHg. This is classified as: → Stage 1 Hypertension
11. When a urine specimen cannot be analyzed within 2 hours of collection, it should be: → Refrigerated at 2–8°C
12. Which form is used to submit insurance claims for reimbursement? → CMS-1500
13. Which ICD-10-CM guideline requires coding to the highest level of specificity? → Use the most specific code available
14. What does the prefix 'hypo-' mean in medical terminology? → Below normal / deficient
15. What is the primary purpose of applying a tourniquet during venipuncture? → To distend the vein for easier access
16. A medical assistant discovers that a coworker is accessing patient records without a job-related need. The BEST immediate action is to: → Report the situation to the privacy officer or supervisor
17. Osseous tissue is another name for: → Bone tissue
18. The prefix 'tachy-' in medical terminology means: → Fast / rapid
19. Which type of drug interaction occurs when one medication increases the breakdown of another drug, reducing its effectiveness? → Enzyme induction
20. Which schedule of controlled substances has no currently accepted medical use in the United States? → Schedule I
21. Which type of insurance plan requires patients to select a primary care physician and obtain referrals for specialist visits? → HMO
22. In SOAP note format, the physical examination findings are recorded under which section? → Objective
23. What is the recommended site for measuring body temperature in an unresponsive adult patient? → Rectal or tympanic
24. State medical practice acts are primarily enforced by which entity? → State medical licensing boards
25. Which laboratory test is primarily used to evaluate kidney function by measuring the waste product filtered by the glomeruli? → Creatinine
26. How does documentation support quality in Diagnostic Procedures? → It creates records, ensures consistency, and enables improvement
27. Which of the following represents the correct chain of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, as recommended by the AHA? → Recognition → CPR → Defibrillation → Advanced care → Recovery
28. Which laboratory finding is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia? → Decreased ferritin and elevated TIBC
29. Which of the following describes normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest? → 12–20 breaths per minute
30. Which federal program sets the quality and safety standards that nursing facilities and home health agencies must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid? → CMS Conditions of Participation