SCMA SCMA Basic 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient who is hard of hearing requests written instructions instead of verbal ones. The medical assistant should:
- Speak more loudly to compensate for the hearing loss
- Deny the request as it is not standard protocol
- Provide clear written instructions as an accommodation (Correct answer)
- Refer the patient to a hearing specialist before proceeding
Correct answer: Provide clear written instructions as an accommodation
Providing written materials is a reasonable accommodation under ADA guidelines and improves patient comprehension and safety.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct anatomical term for the kneecap?
- Olecranon
- Patella (Correct answer)
- Malleolus
- Calcaneus
Correct answer: Patella
The patella is the triangular sesamoid bone located at the front of the knee joint, commonly called the kneecap.
Question 3: When transcribing a physician's telephone order for a controlled substance, the medical assistant should:
- Write the order and have the physician co-sign it within the timeframe required by state law (Correct answer)
- Refuse to take the order and ask the physician to call the pharmacy directly
- Administer the medication immediately and document later
- Enter the order into the EHR without physician verification
Correct answer: Write the order and have the physician co-sign it within the timeframe required by state law
Telephone orders for controlled substances must be transcribed and then co-signed by the ordering physician within the legally required timeframe, which varies by state.
Question 4: The diaphragm of a stethoscope is best used to auscultate:
- Heart murmurs and S3/S4 sounds
- High-pitched sounds such as normal breath sounds and bowel sounds (Correct answer)
- Low-pitched cardiac sounds
- Vascular bruits
Correct answer: High-pitched sounds such as normal breath sounds and bowel sounds
The diaphragm picks up high-pitched sounds, making it ideal for normal breath sounds, bowel sounds, and normal heart sounds (S1 and S2).
Question 5: An ICD-10-CM code is used primarily for:
- Billing for procedures and services performed
- Documenting the patient's diagnoses and conditions (Correct answer)
- Identifying the treating physician's specialty
- Recording pharmacy dispensing information
Correct answer: Documenting the patient's diagnoses and conditions
ICD-10-CM codes classify diseases, signs, symptoms, and diagnoses, while CPT codes are used for billing procedures and services.
Question 6: A patient is prescribed 500 mg of amoxicillin. The stock available is 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should be administered?
- 5 mL
- 10 mL (Correct answer)
- 15 mL
- 20 mL
Correct answer: 10 mL
Using the formula: (desired dose / available dose) × volume = (500/250) × 5 mL = 10 mL.
Question 7: Which of the following actions by a medical assistant constitutes battery in a medical setting?
- Discussing a patient's diagnosis with their insurance company
- Performing a procedure on a patient who has refused consent (Correct answer)
- Failing to return a patient's phone call promptly
- Documenting inaccurate information in a patient chart
Correct answer: Performing a procedure on a patient who has refused consent
Battery in healthcare is the intentional, unconsented touching of a patient; performing a procedure after refusal constitutes battery regardless of medical intent.
SCMA SCMA Basic 5
A patient who is hard of hearing requests written instructions instead of verbal ones.
The medical assistant should: