1. 43 Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness
Lesson 1:
Responding to a Medical Office Emergency

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

3. 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 3

4. Information First Responders Obtain
Patient’s complaint
Patient’s immediate and overall history
Medications taken and allergies
Care administered so far 4

5. Critical Thinking Question
What is the EMS system like in the area where you live? 5

6. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of an MA
What is in the scope of your practice?
How do you know? 6

7. Critical Thinking Question
Does your scope of practice change in an emergency situation? 7

8. 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. 8

9. 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 9

10. Critical Thinking Question
Does the Good Samaritan Law protect an MA in the office? 10

11. The Chain of Survival Early Access Early CPR Early Defibrillation
Early Advanced Care 11

12. Critical Thinking Question
How do each of these insure a better chance of survival? 12

13. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
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 13

14. Critical Thinking Question
What if the patient cannot or will not tell you his or her name? 14

15. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
Determine the patient’s need for intervention 15

16. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
Obtain a history of the event 16

17. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
Gather medication information 17

18. Critical Thinking Question
What if the patient cannot remember his or her medications or has too many to list? 18

19. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
Determine patient’s allergies 19

20. Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response
Primary Assessment
Take the vital signs 20

21. Office Emergency Crash Kit21

22. Items in a Crash Kit Emergency medications Intubation equipment
Needles and syringes
Assorted small instruments
Resuscitator
Heart monitor-defibrillator
Oxygen supply
Airways
Suction devices 22

23. 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 23

24. Critical Thinking Question
What happens when the batteries in crash cart items are not recharged? 24

25. Questions? 25