1. Medical Assisting Chapter 14
PowerPoint® to accompany
Medical Assisting Chapter 14
Second Edition
Ramutkowski  Booth  Pugh  Thompson  Whicker
Chapter 14
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

2. Patient Education Objectives
14-1 Identify the benefits of patient education.
14-2 Explain the role of the medical assistant in patient education.
14-3 Discuss factors that affect teaching and learning.
14-4 Describe patient education materials used in the medical office.

3. Patient Education Objectives (cont.)
14-5 Explain how patient education can be used to promote good health habits.
14-6 Identify the types of information that should be included in the patient information packet.
14-7 Discuss techniques for educating patients with special needs.

4. Patient Education Objectives (cont.)
Explain the benefits of patient education prior to surgery, and identify types of preoperative teaching.
14-10 List educational resources that are available outside the medical office.

5. The Educated Patient
Is better informed about how to maintain a healthy state
Is often more compliant with treatment programs
Takes a more active role in medical care

6. Types of Patient Education
Printed Materials
Brochures, Booklets, and Fact Sheets
Explain procedures that are performed in
the medical office
Provide information about specific diseases
and medical conditions
Provide information to help patients stay
healthy

7. Types of Patient Education
Printed Materials
(cont.)
Educational Newsletter
Medical office newsletters :
Are written by the doctor or office staff
Contain practical health care tips
Offer updates on office policies
Provides information about new
diagnostic tests and equipment

8. Types of Patient Education
Printed Materials
(cont.)
Community Assistance Directory
A written community resource directory prepared by the medical office is a valuable aid for referring patients to appropriate agencies.
Meals On
Wheels
Medical
Services
Day
Care
Centers

9. Types of Patient Education (cont.)
Visual Materials 
Videotapes are used effectively to educate about complex subjects and procedures.
Many physicians arrange classes and seminars for their patients.

10. Apply Your Knowledge - Answer
This is the best answer because books cannot be taken out of the office, and a fact sheet with no pictures might not be as appealing to a large number of patients.
- Answer
A medical assistant employed in a cardiology office is asked by the physicians to create some form of publication to educate patients about healthy heart habits. Which of the following mediums do you feel will be most effective and why?
Create a fact sheet with text explaining common heart diseases.
Check out several books on healthy habits that affect the heart from the local library.
Create a brochure with pictures and text to focus on dietary and other heart functioning.

11. Promoting Good Health Through Education
Health is a complex concept involving physical,
mental, emotional, and social influences.
Consumer Education has helped Americans become more aware of good health practices.
Ways to achieve good health:
Develop good health habits
Protect self from injury
Take preventive measures to protect against disease and illness

12. Promoting Good Health Through Education (cont.)
Regular Exercise
Healthful Habits
Good Nutrition
Adequate Rest

13. Promoting Good Health Through Education (cont.)
Limiting
Alcohol
Intake
No Smoking
Healthful Habits
Balance
Work
Leisure

14. Promoting Good Health Through Education (cont.)
Protection from Injury
Educate patients about safety tips to prevent injuries at home, work, and during play times.
Teach patients about the proper use of medications.

15. Promoting Good Health Through Education (cont.)
Preventive Measures
Third level of prevention
Three Levels
Rehabilitation
Secondary level of prevention
Improve
Functioning
Screening
Primary level of prevention
Diagnostic Testing
Health-Promoting
Behaviors
"CAUTION"

16. Apply Your Knowledge - Answer 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 3rd Tuberculin skin test
Categorize the following list of behaviors as being a first, second, or third level of prevention.
Tuberculin skin test
Monthly self-breast exam
Adopting healthy eating habits
Annual Mammograms
Bladder retraining programs
2nd
1st
1st
2nd
3rd

17. The Patient Information Packet
Benefits of the Information Packet
Simple, inexpensive, and effective medium to improve relationships between the office and the patients
Provides important information about the office policies and staff roles
Excellent marketing tool
All materials should be written at a sixth grade level for reading ease of all patients.

18. The Patient Information Packet
Contents of the
Information Packet
Introduction to the Office
Physician’s Qualifications
Description of the Practice
Introduction to the Office Staff
Office Hours
Appointment Scheduling
Telephone Policy

19. The Patient Information Packet (cont.)
Contents of the
Information Packet (cont.)
Payment Policies
Insurance Policies
Patient Confidentiality Statement
Other Information

20. Distributing the Information Packet
Patients must receive and read the information packet in order for them to be effective.
Methods to distribute the Information Packet
Hand the packet to new patients and review the contents with them.
Mail the packet to patients prior to the initial visit if time permits.
Keep additional copies available in the office where patients can easily access them.
For patients with special concerns, pictures and charts may be needed to communicate the information.

21. Apply Your Knowledge - Answer
Using a digital camera or other device, photos of office personnel and their credentials can be placed in the office content packet.
- Answer
The medical assistant is employed at a very busy internal medicine office with seven physicians and five nurse practitioners. Following their office visit, several patients inquire about the credentials of the medical practitioner seeing them during the visit. How can this information be made available to the patients?

22. Educating Patients with Special Needs
Elderly Patients
Show respect
Put information in writing
Adjust procedures as needed when limitations are present
Patients with Mental Impairments
Use tact and speak at the patient’s level of understanding
Common conditions
Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
Emotional problems
Drug addiction
Mental retardation

23. Educating Patients with Special Needs (cont.)
Patients with Hearing Impairments
Remember that their inability to hear is not a measure of their intelligence.
Patients with Visual Impairments
Verify that all verbal instructions have been heard correctly.
Multicultural Issues
Patients from diverse cultures may have different beliefs about the causes and treatments of their illness.

24. Patient Education Prior to Surgery
The Role of the Medical Assistant
Educational
Legal
Preoperative
Instructions
Informed Consent
Postoperative Instructions

25. Patient Education Prior to Surgery (cont.)
Benefits of Preoperative Education
Increases patients’ overall satisfaction
Reduces patient anxiety and fear
Reduces use of pain medication
Reduces complications following surgery
Reduces recovery time

26. Patient Education Prior to Surgery (cont.)
Types of Preoperative Teaching
Factual
Sensory
Participatory
Provides the patient descriptions of various sensations they may feel during the procedure.
Includes explanations and demonstrations of certain techniques required after surgery. Patients are allowed to provide a return demonstration of the technique to validate understanding and technique accuracy.
Informs patient of specific details about the procedure and needed restrictions before and / or after surgery.

27. Patient Education Prior to Surgery (cont.)
Using Anatomical Models
A visual representation helps patients better understand what will take place
Helping Patients Relieve Anxiety
Allow extra time for patients to grasp information and use positive words when possible
Verifying Patient Understanding
Have patients explain to you in their own words their understanding of what has been taught
Also return demonstrations of procedural instructions validate understanding

28. Additional Educational Resources
Libraries
Computer Resources
Community Resources
Associations
Note: These outside resources may be used by office personnel or patients to obtain educational information.

29. Apply Your Knowledge - Answer
Be sure to speak loud and slow to the patient.
Request that the patient repeats to you, in his/her own words, the preoperative information.
Insist that someone accompany the patient to the office.
- Answer
A patient with both a visual and hearing impairment requires preoperative teaching by the medical assistant. What would be most essential in such a situation?
Be sure to speak loud and slow to the patient.
Request that the patient repeats to you in their own words, the preoperative information.
Insist that someone accompany the patient to the office.

30. End of Chapter
End of Chapter