Cardiology
This is the medical term for high blood pressure.
What is hypertension?
This common test measures how much air a patient can inhale and exhale, and how quickly they can do it.
What is spirometry?
This is the hormone produced by the pancreas that helps lower blood sugar levels.
What is insulin?
This is the most common vein used for venipuncture in the antecubital area.
What is the median cubital vein?
Before any procedure, this must always be obtained to show the patient agrees to treatment.
What is informed consent?
This common symptom — described as chest pain or discomfort — may indicate reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
What is angina?
This device helps patients keep their lungs clear after surgery by encouraging deep breathing.
What is an incentive spirometer?
A medical assistant should immediately report this condition, which happens when blood sugar drops too low.
What is hypoglycemia?
Before drawing blood, the medical assistant should always do this to confirm they have the right patient.
What is verify patient identity (using two identifiers)?
When greeting a patient, a medical assistant should always do this to make the patient feel comfortable and respected.
What is introduce yourself and explain your role?
This part of the EKG waveform represents the depolarization of the atria.
What is the P wave?
This chronic lung disease causes narrowing of the airways and is often triggered by allergens or exercise.
What is asthma?
This blood test shows a patient’s average blood sugar level over the past 2–3 months.
What is an A1C test (or hemoglobin A1C)?
This tube color is commonly used for collecting blood for a complete blood count (CBC).
What is the lavender (or purple) top tube?
medical assistant should clean this area with an alcohol wipe before administering an injection.
What is the injection site (or skin around the injection site)?
This life-threatening arrhythmia causes the heart to quiver instead of pumping effectively and requires immediate defibrillation.
What is ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)?
This tool measures the oxygen saturation level in a patient’s blood without using a needle.
What is a pulse oximeter?
This emergency complication of diabetes is caused by dangerously high blood sugar, often in Type 1 diabetes, and can lead to coma if untreated.
What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
If a patient feels faint during venipuncture, the medical assistant should immediately do this.
What is stop the procedure, remove the needle, protect the patient from falling, and help them sit or lie down safely?
This standard safety precaution is used to treat all blood and body fluids as if they are infectious.
What are standard precautions (or universal precautions)?
This test measures how the heart responds to physical stress and is often done on a treadmill or stationary bike while monitoring the EKG.
What is a stress test (or exercise stress test)?
This test measures how well oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the lungs by analyzing a sample of arterial blood.
What is an arterial blood gas (ABG) test?
This condition, common in Type 2 diabetes, happens when the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin.
What is insulin resistance?
This additive prevents blood from clotting and is found in tubes used for coagulation studies, like a PT or INR test.
What is sodium citrate?
If a patient refuses care or a procedure, the medical assistant should do these two important things.
What is document the refusal and notify the provider?