CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination key terms

Practices that reduce the number and spread of microorganisms in the environment, such as hand hygiene, wearing gloves, and cleaning surfaces. It lowers contamination risk but does not destroy all organisms.

A set of procedures that keeps an area or object completely free of all microorganisms, including spores. It is used for sterile procedures such as surgery, injections, and dressing changes on open wounds.

Infection-control steps applied to every patient regardless of known diagnosis. They include hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids.

The six linked steps needed for an infection to spread: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any link helps stop transmission.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The patient must be competent and free to refuse.

A legal document that states a person's wishes about medical care in advance, in case the person later cannot speak for themselves. Examples include living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care.

A federal law that protects the privacy and security of patients' health information and sets rules for who may see, use, or share it. It also gives patients rights over their records.

The range of duties and procedures a health care worker is legally allowed to perform based on state law, licensure or certification, and employer policy. Working outside it can create legal and safety risks.

An internal record describing an unexpected event, such as a fall or medication error, involving a patient or staff member. It documents facts for risk management and is not part of the medical record.

The way a person holds and moves the body to keep proper alignment and balance while lifting, reaching, or transferring patients. Good body mechanics reduces strain and injury to the worker and patient.

Planned checks that confirm equipment, supplies, and test systems are working correctly and producing reliable results, such as running control samples or checking expiration dates. Problems found are corrected before patient care is affected.

A fixed dollar amount a patient pays at the time of each visit or service, as set by the insurance plan. It is separate from the deductible and coinsurance.

The amount a patient must pay out of pocket for covered services before the insurance plan begins to pay its share, usually within a plan year.

The percentage of covered costs a patient pays after the deductible is met, while the insurance plan pays the remaining percentage. For example, a plan may pay 80 percent and the patient 20 percent.

A statement from the insurance plan showing which services were billed, what the plan paid, what the patient owes, and any reasons for denial. It is not a bill.

The standard paper claim form used to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurers for outpatient services. It includes patient, insured, provider, diagnosis, and procedure information in numbered fields.

A digital record of a patient's medical history, diagnoses, medications, test results, and treatment that is shared among authorized clinicians. It supports safer, coordinated care and is updated in real time.

A form that lists the diagnoses and services provided during a visit and is used to create the insurance claim. It often includes procedure codes, charges, and the amount collected from the patient.

A financial report that groups unpaid patient or insurance balances by how long they have been outstanding, such as 30, 60, or 90 days. It helps identify overdue accounts for collection follow-up.

A payment method in which a provider receives a fixed amount per patient per month or year to cover specified services, regardless of how much care the patient uses. It shifts financial risk to the provider.

Approval from an insurance plan obtained before certain services, tests, or medications are provided, confirming that the plan will cover them. Missing approval can cause a claim denial.

A signed patient authorization that allows a health care provider to share specific protected health information with a named person or organization. It must meet privacy rule requirements to be valid.

A system for organizing reminders and follow-up tasks by date so they appear when due, such as pending claims, recall notices, or unanswered correspondence. It helps keep administrative work from being forgotten.

A clinician or facility that has a contract with an insurance plan to provide services at agreed rates. Patients usually pay less when they see participating providers.

Measurements of basic body functions used to assess health and detect changes: temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and often pain level or oxygen saturation. They are compared with the patient's baseline and normal ranges.

An instrument used to measure blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable cuff, a pressure gauge or digital sensor, and a valve; it is used with a stethoscope for manual readings.

A screening number calculated from a person's height and weight that estimates body fat and weight status. It is used with other assessments, not as a diagnosis by itself.

Collecting blood from a vein, usually with a needle and vacuum tube or syringe, for laboratory testing. Common sites are the antecubital veins inside the elbow.

Collecting a small blood sample by pricking the skin, typically on a fingertip or heel, and using a capillary tube or test strip. It is used when small amounts of blood are enough.

A documented record of who collected, handled, and stored a specimen or sample at every step, used when results may be needed for legal purposes. Any break in the record can make the sample unusable.

A group of physical, chemical, and microscopic tests on a urine sample that screen for infection, kidney disease, diabetes, and other conditions. It includes color, clarity, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, and cells.

A laboratory test classified as simple and low risk by federal standards, allowing it to be performed in a medical office with minimal training and basic quality checks. Examples include urine dipsticks and rapid strep tests.

An injection given into the top layers of the skin, usually on the inner forearm, using a small needle at a shallow angle. It is used for allergy and tuberculosis skin testing.

An injection delivered deep into muscle tissue, such as the deltoid, vastus lateralis, or ventrogluteal site, using a longer needle. It allows faster absorption than subcutaneous tissue for many medications.

A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause hives, swelling of the airway, difficulty breathing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure. It requires immediate emergency treatment.

The process of sorting patients by the urgency of their condition so the sickest or most injured are treated first. It may be done by phone or in person and guides how quickly care is given.

A device that sterilizes equipment using high-pressure steam and heat, killing all microorganisms including spores. Items must be cleaned, packaged, and properly loaded before the cycle.

A recording of the heart's electrical activity made by placing electrodes on the skin. It helps detect arrhythmias, ischemia, and other heart problems; artifacts can distort the tracing.