SCMA SCMA 4

Question 1

A patient with a known penicillin allergy is prescribed amoxicillin by a covering provider. The medical assistant should:

Accepted Answer

Alert the provider immediately about the allergy before the prescription is filled

Answer

Amoxicillin is a penicillin-type antibiotic; a penicillin allergy is a contraindication that must be reported to the prescribing provider immediately to prevent an adverse reaction.

Question 2

Which of the following thermometer sites provides the most accurate core body temperature reading in an adult?

Accepted Answer

Rectal

Answer

Rectal temperature is the most accurate reflection of core body temperature and is approximately 0.5–1°F higher than oral temperature.

Question 3

A patient calls reporting that they accidentally took a double dose of their blood pressure medication. The medical assistant should first:

Accepted Answer

Notify the provider or transfer the call to clinical staff for guidance

Answer

Medication overdose situations require immediate clinical assessment; the MA should escalate to the provider or clinical staff rather than give independent medical advice.

Question 4

Which of the following specimens requires immediate transport to the laboratory on ice?

Accepted Answer

Arterial blood gas (ABG)

Answer

ABG specimens must be transported on ice and analyzed within 15–30 minutes to prevent metabolic changes that alter pH, PO2, and PCO2 values.

Question 5

Under HIPAA, a covered entity may share a patient's protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization for which of the following purposes?

Accepted Answer

Reporting a communicable disease to the state health department

Answer

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI without authorization for public health activities, including mandatory reporting of communicable diseases to public health authorities.

Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Practice Test

Specialty Certified Medical Assistant Practice Test

SCMA SCMA 4