NCCT NCMA flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Normal adult oral temperature

Approximately 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius, or 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Rectal readings run slightly higher and axillary readings slightly lower than oral values.

Normal adult pulse range

A resting heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Rates below 60 are bradycardia and above 100 are tachycardia; count for 30 seconds and double, or a full minute if irregular.

Normal adult respiratory rate

Twelve to 20 breaths per minute at rest. Count for a full 30 seconds and multiply by two, observing chest rise without telling the patient you are counting respirations.

Blood pressure cuff sizing

The bladder should encircle about 40 percent of arm circumference for width and 80 percent for length. A cuff that is too small gives falsely high readings.

Standard precautions

Infection control practices applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis: hand hygiene, gloves for contact with blood or body fluids, eye protection when splashing is likely, and safe sharps handling.

Sharps disposal rule

Used needles and lancets go immediately into a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use. Never recap with two hands, and replace the container at about three-quarters full.

Two patient identifiers

Before any procedure, specimen, or medication, verify identity using two independent identifiers, typically full name plus date of birth or medical record number. Room number alone is never acceptable.

Order of draw purpose

Specimen tubes are filled in a set sequence to prevent additive from one tube contaminating another. Blood culture bottles come first, then coagulation tubes, then serum tubes with or without clot activator.

EDTA tube inversion

Lavender-top EDTA tubes are gently inverted eight to ten times to mix the anticoagulant. Vigorous shaking causes hemolysis, which falsely elevates potassium and other intracellular analytes.

NPO abbreviation

Means nothing by mouth. The order specifies how long before a procedure, and the medical assistant must confirm the patient has not eaten, drunk, or taken oral medications as instructed.

PRN abbreviation

Means as needed. The order must state the dose, route, frequency limit, and the symptom or condition that justifies giving the medication, and each administration is documented.

Anaphylaxis response

Signs include hives, facial swelling, wheezing, and falling blood pressure after exposure. Epinephrine is first-line treatment, so emergency supplies must be checked and available before any injection is given.

Sterile field contamination

A sterile item that touches a nonsterile surface, becomes wet, or is opened past its expiration is contaminated. The one-inch border of a sterile wrapper is considered nonsterile.

Bloodborne exposure first step

Immediately wash the exposed area with soap and water, flush mucous membranes, then report the exposure and seek post-exposure evaluation. Do not squeeze or scrub a needlestick site.

Pulse oximetry interpretation

A reading of 95 to 100 percent on room air is normal. Values below 90 percent indicate hypoxemia and require prompt reporting; poor probe placement, cold fingers, and dark nail polish cause false readings.

Orthostatic blood pressure

Blood pressure and pulse are measured lying, sitting, and standing. A drop of 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic on standing suggests orthostatic hypotension and supports fall precautions.

Wave scheduling

Patients are given the same or closely spaced appointment times and seen in arrival order. It absorbs variable visit lengths but can create long waits when several patients arrive together.

Modified wave scheduling

Combines interval booking with open slots, for example two patients at the start of each hour and the rest at staggered times. It balances provider idle time against patient waiting.

Open access scheduling

A portion of each day's slots is held open for same-day appointments. It reduces no-shows and emergency department use but requires monitoring of demand and capacity.

Telephone triage documentation

Record caller name and relationship, chief complaint, advice given, who gave it, and the date and time. Incomplete documentation leaves the practice unable to show the standard of care.

HIPAA authorization elements

A valid release names the specific information, the recipient, the purpose, an expiration date or event, and the patient's signature, plus a statement of revocation rights and potential redisclosure.

Minimum necessary standard

Uses and disclosures of protected health information are limited to the least amount needed for the purpose. Treatment, payment, and health care operations still require limiting access to what the task requires.

Explanation of benefits

A payer statement showing charges, allowed amount, payments, and patient responsibility. It is not a bill; the practice issues a separate statement for any balance owed by the patient.

Deductible versus copayment

A deductible is the amount the patient pays before insurance benefits begin. A copayment is a fixed dollar amount paid at each visit regardless of whether the deductible is met.

Coinsurance definition

The patient's percentage share of covered costs after the deductible is satisfied, for example 20 percent of an allowed amount while the plan pays 80 percent.

Claim rejection versus denial

A rejection is a front-end edit failure such as a missing identifier or invalid code and is corrected and resubmitted. A denial is a payer decision after review and is handled by appeal.

Aging of accounts receivable

Receivables are grouped by days outstanding, typically 0 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, and over 90. A growing over-90 bucket signals collection or coding problems.

Correcting a medical record

Draw one line through the error so the original stays readable, write the correction, and add initials, credentials, and the date. Never erase, white out, or backdate an entry.

Par level

The minimum quantity of a supply that should remain on hand before reordering. Comparing on-hand counts to par levels each week prevents stockouts of frequently used clinical supplies.

Subpoena versus court order

A subpoena is a request for records that generally requires patient authorization or a qualified protective order. A court order signed by a judge can compel disclosure under specific conditions.

Safeguards for faxed PHI

Verify the recipient's fax number before sending, use a cover sheet with a confidentiality notice, and keep the confirmation page. A misdirected fax requires mitigation and documentation.