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. Which type of medication interaction occurs when two drugs taken together produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects? → Potentiation
6. Which inventory management method assumes that the oldest stock is used first to minimize waste of time-sensitive supplies? → First in, first out (FIFO)
7. What is a differential white blood cell count used to evaluate? → The proportion of each type of white blood cell in a sample
8. Which chamber of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body through the aorta? → Left ventricle
9. 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%
10. Which of the following should a patient be allowed to eat if their physician recommends a low-fat diet? → Boneless, skinless chicken breast
11. Which type of microscopy is used to examine unstained specimens by varying the refractive index between the specimen and surrounding medium? → Phase-contrast microscopy
12. Which laboratory value is used to monitor long-term blood glucose control in patients with diabetes? → Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
13. What is the single most effective method of preventing the spread of infection in a medical setting? → Performing proper hand hygiene
14. Which is NOT a medical assistant's duty? → To perform a patient's physical exam.
15. What does an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) indicate? → Nonspecific inflammation or infection in the body
16. Which part of the abdomen is located directly distal to the sternum? → Epigastric
17. What is the normal fasting blood glucose range for an adult? → 70-99 mg/dL
18. Which hepatitis virus is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route through contaminated food or water? → Hepatitis A
19. 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
20. Which of the following is NOT a standard precaution? → None of the above
21. Which method is used to obtain a urine specimen that minimizes contamination from the external genitalia? → Clean-catch midstream collection
22. What does the prefix 'brady-' mean in medical terminology? → Slow
23. What does the medical term 'hematuria' mean? → Blood in the urine
24. Which area of the heart receives the body's deoxygenated blood? → Rt. atrium
25. Which federal law primarily governs the privacy of patient health information in the United States? → HIPAA
26. Autoclave sterilization achieves sterilization through which mechanism? → Moist heat (steam) under pressure at 121°C
27. Which action should be taken first if a patient is hospitalized with a wound that is still bleeding? → Bleeding should be stopped.
28. The right ventricle of the heart pumps blood into the: → Pulmonary artery
29. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the sense of smell? → Cranial Nerve I (Olfactory)
30. What is the adipose tissue made of? → Fat cells