Human Behavior and Professional Communication
Which of the following is not a barrier to effective communication?
A. Noise in the environment
B. Cultural differences
C. Clear written instructions
D. Use of jargon
Answer: C. Clear written instructions
Explain what the term "respondeat superior" means in medical law and ethics.
"Respondeat superior," which translates to "let the master answer," is a legal doctrine that holds an employer liable for the actions of its employees, particularly when those actions cause harm and occur within the scope of the employee's work. Essentially, it means that an employer can be held responsible for an employee's negligence or wrongdoings while they are on the job.
Which of the following is an example of a Schedule II drug?
A. Ibuprofen
B. Diazepam
C. Morphine
D. Amoxicillin
Answer: C. Morphine
Of the federal programs providing healthcare, the largest is ____, which provides health insurance for citizens aged 65 and older. The type that covers hospitalizations is _______.
Medicare, Medicare A
A patient who has been stung by a honeybee comes to the office to have the stinger removed. What is the appropriate way to remove the bee stinger?
A. Use your fingers to pull out the stinger
B. Scrape the skin with a credit card or flat, hard, sharp object
C. Squeeze the skin near the stinger between your thumbs
D. Call the physician immediately; only the physician can remove a stinger
E. Take it out with a pair of tweezers
B. Scrape the skin with a credit card or flat, hard, sharp object
Which of the following statements is an example of closed-ended questioning?
A. “How have you been feeling since your last visit?”
B. “Can you describe your pain?”
C. “What are your concerns about this medication?”
D. “Does it hurt when you move your arm?”
Answer: D. “Does it hurt when you move your arm?”
Which of the following situations would require mandatory reporting by a medical assistant?
A. A patient requests birth control
B. A patient reports joint pain
C. Suspected child abuse
D. A patient requests to see their chart
Answer: C. Suspected child abuse
________ refers to an interaction between two or more drugs where their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects when administered separately. This means that when drugs are combined, they can produce a more potent or effective outcome than either drug could achieve on its own.
A. Synergism
B. Potentiation
C. Tolerance
D. Antagonism
A. Synergism
The person whose name the insurance is carried under is called the ____.
The policyholder may be called the insured, the member, or the subscriber.
You are having lunch with friends at a local restaurant. Suddenly, you notice someone at the table next to yours putting his hands up to his throat. He has a fearful look on his face. Which of the following is the appropriate first action to take?
Ask the person if they are choking.
Which skill is essential for maintaining professional boundaries in the medical office?
A. Remaining friendly while keeping the relationship focused on care
B. Accepting small gifts from patients to build trust
C. Sharing personal stories to connect with patients
D. Becoming friends with patients outside the clinic
Answer: A. Remaining friendly while keeping the relationship focused on care
What type of law governs relationships between individuals and includes issues like contracts and malpractice?
A. Criminal law
B. Civil law
C. Public law
D. Administrative law
Answer: B. Civil law
Which of the following is a common side effect of antihistamines?
A. Diarrhea
B. Drowsiness
C. Insomnia
D. Increased appetite
Answer: B. Drowsiness
When the insured person pays an annual cost for healthcare insurance, it is called a ________.
premium
Under an insurance policy, the policyholder pays a premium or annual charge for keeping the insurance policy in force.
Your brother has been working in the backyard, trimming bushes and pulling weeds. He was not wearing gloves, and suddenly he comes into the house looking scared and holding his lower arm. He has been bitten by a snake that he thinks was a rattlesnake. You call EMS immediately. Until help arrives, what will you do for your brother?
A. Immobilize his arm and positioning it below heart level.
B. Apply an ice pack or a plastic bag full of ice.
C. Suction the wound to remove the poison.
D. Apply a tourniquet.
E. Position his arm above heart level.
A. Immobilize his arm and positioning it below heart level.
To care for a poisonous snakebite while you await help, keep your brother calm and remove any rings he might be wearing, and his watch if it is on that arm as these can cut into the skin if swelling occurs. Keep the area of the bite below the heart in order to slow the spread of venom through the bloodstream.
A patient insists that their test results must be incorrect because they “feel fine” and "don’t believe they could have a serious illness." This is an example of:
A. Projection
B. Denial
C. Repression
D. Rationalization
Answer: B. Denial
Which document gives someone the legal authority to make healthcare decisions on another’s behalf?
A. Subpoena
B. Living will
C. Power of attorney
D. DNR order
Answer: C. Power of attorney
A contraindication means:
A. A reason to use a medication
B. A side effect to expect
C. A condition where the drug should not be used
D. A dosage instruction
Answer: C. A condition where the drug should not be used
This help determine the order that the insurance companies will pay benefits when a dependent child is covered by two health insurance plans.
birthday rule
Primary coverage comes from the plan of the parent whose birthday (month and day only) comes first in the year, with the other parent's health plan providing secondary coverage.
Which of the following steps would you include if a patient has ingested poison but is alert and not having convulsions?
A. Call the regional poison control center and follow their instructions
B. Turn the patient on the right side
C. Loosen tight-fitting clothing and wrap the patient in a blanket to prevent shock
D. Administer medications for nausea and pain
E. Induce vomiting immediately
A. Call the regional poison control center and follow their instructions
A woman who feels hostility toward her sister accuses her sister of being hostile toward her. This illustrates:
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Repression
D. Regression
Answer: A. Projection
Which of the following is an example of implied consent?
A. Signing a surgical consent form
B. Verbally agreeing to a vaccine
C. Holding out an arm for a blood pressure check
D. Giving a durable power of attorney
Answer: C. Holding out an arm for a blood pressure check
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is used to:
A. Lower blood pressure
B. Lower cholesterol
C. Treat asthma
D. Control blood sugar
Answer: B. Lower cholesterol
The most likely outcome of an insurance claim submitted with a diagnosis code of a sore throat and a treatment code indicating a cast for a broken leg would be ____.
A. coverage at 100 percent for both the sore throat and the broken leg
B. the fee for service would be applied toward the patient's deductible
C. denied because the treatment was not medically necessary based on the diagnosis
D. a reprimand to the physician for not treating the sore throat
E. the patient may have to pay a coinsurance after the deductible is met
C. denied because the treatment was not medically necessary based on the diagnosis.
Outline the steps used to assess if someone may be experiencing a stroke, then provide the correct procedure.
F – Face: Ask the person to smile.
Check for drooping or unevenness on one side of the face.
A – Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms.
Look to see if one arm drifts downward or is weak.
S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence (e.g., “The sky is blue”).
Listen for slurred or strange speech.
T – Time: If any of these signs are present, it’s time to call 911 immediately.
Do not wait—early treatment is critical.