SCMA Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is the term for the combining form 'cardi/o' in medical terminology? → Heart
2. When a patient's insurance claim is denied, what is the first step the medical assistant should take? → Review the denial reason and determine if an appeal is appropriate
3. Which federal law primarily governs the privacy of patient health information in the United States? → HIPAA
4. Which scheduling method assigns specific appointment slots to specific types of visits (e.g., physical exams in the morning, follow-ups in the afternoon)? → Cluster scheduling
5. When scheduling appointments, which patient should be given priority? → A patient reporting chest pain and shortness of breath
6. Which type of medication interaction occurs when two drugs taken together produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects? → Potentiation
7. A specialty MA assists with a flexible cystoscopy in a urology office. Which solution is used to irrigate and distend the bladder during this procedure? → Normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
8. Which inventory management method assumes that the oldest stock is used first to minimize waste of time-sensitive supplies? → First in, first out (FIFO)
9. What is a differential white blood cell count used to evaluate? → The proportion of each type of white blood cell in a sample
10. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta? → Left ventricle
11. Which of the following best describes a drug's 'half-life'? → The time required for the drug concentration in the body to decrease by 50%
12. Which of the following should a patient be allowed to eat if their physician recommends a low-fat diet? → Boneless, skinless chicken breast
13. Which type of microscopy is used to examine unstained specimens by varying the refractive index between the specimen and surrounding medium? → Phase-contrast microscopy
14. Which laboratory value is used to monitor long-term blood glucose control in patients with diabetes? → Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
15. What is the single most effective method of preventing the spread of infection in a medical setting? → Performing proper hand hygiene
16. Which is NOT a medical assistant's duty? → To perform a patient's physical exam.
17. What does an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) indicate? → Nonspecific inflammation or infection in the body
18. When preparing a patient for a colonoscopy, the specialty MA instructs them on bowel prep. Which medication class is most commonly used for this preparation? → Osmotic laxatives
19. Which part of the abdomen is located directly distal to the sternum? → Epigastric
20. What is the normal fasting blood glucose range for an adult? → 70-99 mg/dL
21. Which hepatitis virus is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route through contaminated food or water? → Hepatitis A
22. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what is a medical practice required to provide? → Reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access for patients with disabilities
23. Which of the following is NOT a standard precaution? → None of the above
24. Which muscle is the preferred site for intramuscular injection in infants under 12 months? → Vastus lateralis
25. Which method is used to obtain a urine specimen that minimizes contamination from the external genitalia? → Clean-catch midstream collection
26. What does the prefix 'brady-' mean in medical terminology? → Slow
27. What does the medical term 'hematuria' mean? → Blood in the urine
28. Which area of the heart receives the body's deoxygenated blood? → Rt. atrium
29. A specialty MA is assisting with an EKG and notices lead II shows a flat line while other leads appear normal. What is the most likely cause? → Lead II electrode has become detached
30. Which of the following is the correct order of blood draw tubes when using the evacuated tube system? → Blue, gold, green, lavender, gray