NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Test Plan for the CCMA Exam

NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Detailed Test Plan* 150 scored items, 30 pretest Exam Time: 3 hours *Based on the Results a Job Analysis Study Completed in 2016 This document provides an outline of the topics and associated weighting that may be covered on the CCMA Certification Exam. A one-page summary of the plan is also available. Within a given topic area, task and/or knowledge statements will be provided. Knowledge statements reflect information that a candidate will need to know, while task statements reflect duties that a candidate will need to know how to properly perform. Items on the exam may require recall and critical thinking pertaining to a knowledge statement, a task statement, or both. Please note that some domains only contain knowledge statements. 1. Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science Knowledge of: A. Health care systems and settings 1. Role and responsibilities of the MA, other healthcare providers, and allied health personnel 2. Scope of practice 3. Titles and credentials 4. Licensing and certification 5. Healthcare delivery models (HMOs, PPOs, POS, PCMH, accountable care organizations/payment for performance [ACOs], hospice, collaborative care model) 6. General versus specialties and services offered 7. Ancillary services; alternative therapies 8. Insurance fundamentals B. Medical terminology 1. Common abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols 2. Conditions, procedures, and instruments 3. Medical word building (prefixes, suffixes, plurals) 4. Positional and directional terminology C. Basic pharmacology 1. Commonly prescribed medications and common approved abbreviations 2. Drug classifications and drug schedules 3. Side effects, adverse effects, indications, and contra-indications 4. Measurement (for both metric and household systems), mathematical conversions, and dosage calculations 5. Forms of medication (for example, pill, capsule, ointment) 6. Look alike/sound alike medications 7. Routes of administration 8. Pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) 9. Rights of drugs/medication administration 10. Physicians' Desk Reference and online resources 11. Principles of storage and disposal D. Nutrition 1. Dietary nutrients 2. Dietary needs and patient education (general, and related to diseases and conditions) 3. Vitamins and supplements 4. Eating disorders 5. Food labels E. Psychology 1. Developmental stages 2. End-of-life and stages of grief 3. Psychology of the physically disabled, developmentally delayed, and those with diseases 4. Environmental and socio-economic stressors 5. Mental health screening 6. Defense mechanisms 2. Anatomy and Physiology Knowledge of: A. Body structures and organ systems 1. Anatomical structures, locations, and positions 2. Structure and function of major body systems, including organs and their locations 3. Interactions between organ systems, homeostasis B. Pathophysiology and disease processes 1. Signs, symptoms, and etiology of common diseases, conditions, and injuries 2. Diagnostic measures and treatment modalities 3. Incidence, prevalence, and risk factors 4. Risk factors leading to high mortality and morbidity (for example, complications, accompanying diseases) 5. Epidemics and pandemics C. Microbiology 1. Cell structure (for example, nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, mitochondria, lysosomes, nucleolus) 2. Common pathogens and non-pathogens 3. Organisms and microorganisms 4. Infectious agents; chain of infection; conditions for growth 3. Clinical Patient Care A. General Patient Care Tasks: T1. Identify patient T2. Prepare examination/procedure room T3. Ensure patient safety within the clinical setting T4. Complete a comprehensive clinical intake process, including the purpose of the visit T5. Measure vital signs T6. Obtain anthropomorphic measurements T7. Identify/document/report abnormal signs and symptoms T8. Assist provider with general physical examination T9. Assist provider with specialty examinations T10. Prepare patient for procedures T11. Prepare and administer medications and/or injectables using non- parenteral and parenteral routes (excluding IV) (for example, oral, buccal, sublingual, intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous, topical, transdermal, and inhalation) T12. Perform staple and suture removal T13. Administer eye, ear, and topical medications T14. Perform ear and eye irrigation T15. Administer first aid and basic wound care T16. Identify and respond to emergency/priority situations T17. Perform CPR T18. Assist provider with patients presenting with minor and traumatic injury T19. Assist with surgical interventions (for example, sebaceous cyst removal, toe nail removal, colposcopy, cryosurgery) T20. Review provider's discharge instructions/plan of care with patients T21. Follow guidelines for sending orders for prescriptions and refills by telephone, fax, or email T22. Document relevant aspects of patient care in patient record