Lesson 1 Responding to a Medical Office Emergency Chapter 43: Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness © 2009 Pearson Education

 Define and spell the terms to learn for this chapter.  List the steps of a primary assessment. © 2009 Pearson Education Lesson Objectives Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to …

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Introduction  The physician must be notified immediately regarding all medical office emergencies.  Sometimes you may need to call 911.  MA’s should not perform procedures outside of their scope of practice.

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Emergency Resources  There are several options available During normal office hours minor emergencies may be handled in the office. Freestanding clinics or urgent care centers provide emergency care during & after hours, although they do not usually offer critical care intervention. Hospitals usually have 24-hr emergency departments open 7 days a week. Critical care centers have specialty-trained physician, surgeons, anesthesiologists, & other critical care staff on duty at all times.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System  Established to provide prehospital care safe and prompt transportation to an emergency facility.  EMS providers recognize medical conditions initiate basic life support Referred to as “first responders”

Information First Responders Obtain  Patient’s complaint  Patient’s immediate and overall history  Medications taken and allergies  Care administered so far

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR What entails the role of the EMS?  Provide on-the-scene intervention & treatment  Prepare the patient with injuries, trauma, or illness for transport.  Transport the pt to the emergency facility. Once the patient is safely delivered to the receiving facility, the patient’s care is passed to medical personnel at that facility.

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Some EMS duties  May Intubate (inserting a tube into the trachea as an emergency airway  Start an IV (intravenous line)  Carry ample oxygen supplies  Carry an assortment of emergency medications  Licensed to perform other invasive procedures

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Specialized Resources  The MA will occasionally need to consult with specialists in various areas.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of an MA  What is in the scope of your practice?  How do you know? Critical Thinking Question Does your scope of practice change in an emergency situation? Critical Thinking Question Does your scope of practice change in an emergency situation? Insert Figure 1-6 from PCMA 2e

The Good Samaritan Law  What is the Good Samaritan Law?  How does it protect you as an MA? The American Heart Association is a great site to visit to learn more about these laws.

Good Samaritan Laws  State laws that help to protect a health care professional from liability while giving emergency care to an accident victim.  Laws in place to encourage bystanders to offer aid in emergency situations without fear of being prosecuted for unintentional injury or death.  No one is required to give aid in the event of an emergency. Critical Thinking Question Does the Good Samaritan Law protect an MA in the office? Critical Thinking Question Does the Good Samaritan Law protect an MA in the office?

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Good Samaritan Laws  Health care professionals have a commitment to render care to a patient according to the scope of his or her license, certification, or training.  Must remain with the patient until relieved by another health care professional with equal or higher level of training.  Be aware of the laws in your state and remember the standard of care needs to be met according to your license, certification, or training.

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Guidelines for Providing Emergency Care  Must stay up to date on the emergency plans of the office, facility, and community which requires reviewing on a regular basis.  Consider the American Red Cross (ARC) for major or catastrophic events.  Local law enforcement & emergency management agencies aid after catastrophic events.  Standard policy is to treat the least serious first so that they may help in rescue attempts.

© 2007 Pearson Education MEDA116 – First Aid and CPR Type of Emergency Situations  3 types Telephone: ►Most common ►Pt or someone else calls for the pt during the emergency Happens near the office & someone brings the pt to the office: ►Such as a car accident or train accident Occurs in the office: ►Such as cardiac arrest

The Chain of Survival  Early Access  Early CPR  Early Defibrillation  Early Advanced Care Critical Thinking Question How do each of these insure a better chance of survival? Critical Thinking Question How do each of these insure a better chance of survival?

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response  Determine the patient’s name, approximate age, and gender Always ask the patient’s name first –Patient’s response helps determine how the patient’s mind and body are functioning Primary Assessment Critical Thinking Question What if the patient cannot or will not tell you his name? Critical Thinking Question What if the patient cannot or will not tell you his name?

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response Primary Assessment  Determine the patient’s need for intervention A pt who cannot be aroused or who cannot stay awake deserves serious concern

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response Primary Assessment  Obtain a history of the event Insert Figure 12-2 from PCMA 2e

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response Primary Assessment  Gather medication information Insert Figure 53-4 from PCMA 2e Critical Thinking Question What if the patient cannot remember his or her medications or has too many to list? Critical Thinking Question What if the patient cannot remember his or her medications or has too many to list?

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response Primary Assessment  Determine patient’s allergies

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response  Take the vital signs Primary Assessment Insert Figure from PCMA 1e p. 606

Office Emergency Crash Kit Insert Figure 43-2 from PCMA 2e

Items in a Crash Kit  Emergency medications  Intubation equipment  Needles and syringes  Assorted small instruments

Items in a Crash Kit  Resuscitator  Heart monitor-defibrillator  Oxygen supply  Airways  Suction devices

The Medical Assistant and the Crash Kit  The medical assistant should do routine checks of emergency supplies in the crash cart. These include: Restocking Replacing expired medications Replacing used items Replacing/charging batteries in certain items Critical Thinking Question What happens when the batteries in crash cart items are not recharged? Critical Thinking Question What happens when the batteries in crash cart items are not recharged?

Questions?