Medical Assistants - Review Your Pharmacology Questions Here

You want to be the best medical assistant you can be but drug names, medical terms, Roman numerals and abbreviations on prescription pads and medicine bottle labels won't always stick to your memory.

What You Need to Know about Medications... Right Now!!!

Medications and controlled substances in a medical office are subject to certain laws and must be safeguarded at all times. As a medical assistant you are legally responsible for adhering to these regulations associated with handling, administering, disposal and safe-keeping of medications within their scope of practice. Start our Free Pharmacology Review for medical assistants right now, right here.

If would like to reinforce or check your understanding of the basic principles of pharmacology and review how medications are prescribed, calculated, administered, handled and stored then you have arrived at the right place.

True or False?
Do Medical Assistants Need to Know Drugs?

Do medical assistants REALLY have to know the forms of drugs, their uses, strength and how they are prescribed? Isn't that the doctor's job?

True. Prescribing medications is the doctor's job; however, medical assistants are expected to be familiar with the most common forms of medications. Generally, this means basic knowledge of     
      brand and generic name and usual dosages typically ordered in the medical office where they work.

What You Don't Know Might Lead to Errors...

 Remember: Those who dispense and administer medications must be able to read and understand written prescription and medication orders and possess a solid understanding of the conditions under which certain drugs may, or may not be prescribed (i.e. pregnancy, breast-feeding, allergies, side-effects, age and weight risks). A good medical assistant training program includes pharmacology classes, since it is essential to the job. Most doctors require it as a prerequisite when they fill positions within their practice.

Goals:

1. Define sub-sciences of pharmacology and their specific fields of study
2. Identify several resources available to the medical office staff to learn more about medications
3. Differentiate between a drug’s organic, chemical, generic, and brand (trade) names
4. Contrast the administration, dispensing, and prescribing of a mediation
5. Learn pharmacology terms, measurements, conversion rules, and abbreviations
6. Understand Roman numerals
7. Identify which medications do not require a prescription
8. Identify the classification and primary body system affected by the most common medications prescribed
9. Recognize the most commonly prescribed medications by both their brand and generic names
10. Describe how medications should be disposed
11. Cite guidelines for proper documentation of medication administration
12. Summarize the DEA’s classification (schedules of drugs)
13. Provide examples from each class of drugs
14. Compare and contrast the uses for various forms of medications
15. Differentiate between suspensions, emulsions, elixirs, syrups, and solutions
16. Differentiate between ampule and vial forms of medications
17. Differentiate between a suppository and an enema
18. Cite topical routes which involve mucous membranes
19. Identify five uses of medications
20. Cite several conditions which are considered significant side effects or adverse reactions
21. Differentiate between drug tolerance and drug dependence
22. Identify several drugs used for emergencies
23. Name the agencies which regulate drugs and their availability
24. List the types of drugs most commonly abused
25. List factors that can affect the effect of a drug
26. Cite the formula for calculating desired dosages of drugs, including pediatric dosages
27. Summarize the recommended schedule of childhood and adult immunizations
28. Provide the information necessary for charting an immunization
29. Cite the “three befores” and the “seven rights” of drug administration
30. Differentiate between metric, apothecary, and household types of measurements
31. Describe the different methods of how drugs may be administered
32. Summarize the requirements for administering medications parenterally
33. Name appropriate measures in case of an accidental poisoning
34. List factors that can lead to accidental poisoning
35. List factors that can lead to medication errors
36. Identify reasons of accidental deaths due to errors
37. List measures to avoid medication errors and misinterpretations of medication orders

CONSUMER ALERT 

Buying drugs online may be illegal! Federal law prohibits buying controlled substances such as narcotic pain relievers (e.g., OxyContin®, Vicodin ®), sedatives (e.g., Valium®, Xanax®, Ambien®), stimulants (e.g., phentermine, phendimetrazine, Adderall®, Ritalin®) and anabolic steroids (e.g., Winstrol®, Equipoise®) without a valid prescription from a doctor.

This means there must be a bona fide doctor-patient relationship, which by most state laws requires a physical examination to receive a prescription. Prescriptions written by "cyber doctors" relying on online questionnaires are not legitimate under the law.

Buying controlled substances online without a valid prescription may be punishable by imprisonment under Federal law. It is a felony to import drugs into the United States and ship to a non-DEA registrant. To report illegal prescription drug sales and/or rogue pharmacies operating on the Internet call the anonymous Pharmaceutical Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-877-RxAbuse (1-877-792-2873). More info at: DEA Website