Exam Review CASE STUDIES

Exam Review CASE STUDIES

NHA Body Structures and Organ Systems ​

​CASE STUDY #1

You the MA, are taking a medical history from Ms. Stevens. Ms.

Stevens' CC of lower abdominal pain that starts in the center of her

abdomen, well below the belly button, and radiates to the left side of

the lower abdomen. Ms. Stevens also c/o lower back pain on left side

and it has lasted for 2 days. Also,  c/o frequency, painful urination

and a fever of 100.2F.

Multiple Choice

What region would this CC be described as originating in?

• epigastric

• hypogastric

• umbilical

• lumbar

Multiple Choice

What region would this CC be considered to be radiating to?

• right iliac

• left iliac region

• right lumbar

• left hypochondriac

​CASE STUDY #1

You the MA, are taking a medical history from Ms. Stevens. Ms.

Stevens' CC of lower abdominal pain that starts in the center of her

abdomen, well below the belly button, and radiates to the left side of

the lower abdomen. Ms. Stevens also c/o lower back pain on left side

and it has lasted for 2 days. Also,  c/o frequency, painful urination

and a fever of 100.2F.

Poll

What type of an exam would you anticipate the provider performing?

• pelvic/abdominal

• thoracic and abdominal

• neurolgic

• head to toe exam

CASE STUDY #2

Healthcare Systems and Settings

Meghan, a medical assistant, is taking medical history from Mr. Martin. Mr Martin explains that he took his morning medication as usual and then went outside to prune his hedges. Upon going inside for lunch, he noticed a red, itchy rash on his lower right leg. Meghan documents this in the chart for the provider.

Open Ended

What are some additional questions that the medical assistant should ask to document the history of this episode a little more?

Following the screening, Mr Martin asks if Meghan can suggest an over-the-counter medication to help his rash. Meghan knows the doctor normally prescribes diphenhydramine for local reactions.

After thinking about his symptoms and possible contributors to his symptoms, Mr. Martin states that he has never had any previous reactions to his current medications but he has had similar reactions when working in the garden. The provider thinks the patient would be best served by seeing a specialist.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following specialists is the provider likely to recommend in this case?

• Dermatologist

• Endocrinologist

• Infectious disease specialist

• Allergist

Multiple Choice

The provider orders the MA to administer a shot of diphenhydramine to the patient. In the state of New York, can an MA administer this injection?

• Yes

• No

​Pathophysiology and Disease

Mr. Swanson comes to the office reporting wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness across his chest. He states he has a history of hay fever but never experienced any wheezing or chest tightness until after moving to an apartment in the city 6 months ago. He states that he has been to the ED at least 3 times since moving to the new apartment. The MA references the history section of Mr. Swanson's chart and notes that he is a smoker and also has hypertension.

Open Ended

What body systems might be involved in the patient's symptoms? Name more than 1.

​After additional questioning...

the MA learns that Mr. Swanson experienced similar symptoms each time he went to the ED. He received a diagnosis of asthma during each visit. Mr. Swanson used his inhaler earlier but just says he can't get full relief & didn't go back to the ED this evening because of the high deductible. He doesn't think that this attack is severe as previous attacks, but he is uncomfortable.

Multiple Choice

What types of testing might the provider prescribe?

• spirometry

• pulse oximetry

• ECG

• All of these

Open Ended

What will you require before performing any of these tests?

​Why did the provider prescibe allergy testing?

The provider orders a breathing treatment, and the patient's symptoms subside. The provider would like the patient set up to have allergy testing and prescribes steroids.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the steroids?

• anticholinergic

• antiviral

• anti-inflammatory

• anti-emetic

Open Ended

What lifestyle changes should the patient make to help reduce the risk of future attacks?