CMA Role
What is the main purpose of a medical assistant?
To support safe, organized and compassionate patient care within their role.
What does professionalism mean in the medical assisting setting?
Demonstrating appropriate professional behaviors, communication, appearance, teamwork, privacy, punctuality, and follow-through.
What precautions are used with every patient as appropriate to the anticipated exposure?
Standard precautions.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment.
What is a handoff?
The transfer of important patient information and responsibility from one healthcare team member to another.
Name one administrative responsibility of a medical assistant.
Scheduling, registration, documentation, insurance-related task, or other appropriate administrative workflow tasks.
What is the difference between accountability and blame?
Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions and responding appropriately to mistakes; blame focuses on assigning fault.
Name the six links in the Chain of Infection.
1. Infections agent -> 2. reservoir -> 3. portal of exit -> 4. mode of transmission -> 5. portal of entry -> 6. susceptible host
What should determine which PPE a medical assistant selects?
The anticipated exposure risk.
What is closed-loop communication?
A communication process that confirms important information or instructions were received and understood.
Name one clinical responsibility of a medical assistant.
Taking vital signs, assisting with examinations, collecting specimen's, preparing equipment, or other appropriate clinical tasks.
Name two qualities that demonstrate reliability.
Being punctual, following through on responsibilities, communicating when help is needed, and completing assigned tasks appropriately.
Name two important times when hand hygiene should be performed.
Before and after patient contact, after potential exposure to body fluids, after glove removal, or appropriate moments in the patient-care workflow.
What is the difference between donning and doffing?
Donning means putting PPE on. Doffing means removing PPE.
Why are handoffs important for patient safety?
They help ensure important patient information and responsibility are transferred accurately.
Can a medical assistant independently diagnose a patient's condition?
No. A medical assistant works within their scope and does not independently diagnose.
A medical assistant makes a mistake. What is the professional response?
Take responsibilities, communicate appropriately, and seek help or clarification as needed rather than hiding the mistake.
When is soap and water especially appropriate for hand hygiene?
When hands are visibly soiled.
What is the safest place to dispose of a used needle?
An appropriate sharps container.
A healthcare team member gives you an important instruction. You repeat or confirm the information so they know you understood it. What communication technique are you using?
Closed-loop communication.
A medical assistant is asked to perform a task but is unsure whether it is within their role. What should they do?
Stop and clarify before proceeding.
A medical assistant is running late and realizes they may not meet an important responsibility. What professional behavior should they demonstrate?
Communicate appropriately and take responsibility rather than ignoring the situation.
A medical assistant removes gloves after patient care and immediately touches the computer. What important step did they miss?
Hand hygiene.
Why are safety-engineered devices used?
They are designed to help reduce the risk of sharps injuries.
You receive a patient-care instruction, but you are unsure what the person meant. What should you do?
Clarify the instruction rather than guessing.