1. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Comprehensive Medical Assisting, 3 rd Ed Unit Four: Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting Chapter 19 – Anthropometric Measurements and Vital Signs

2. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs and Anthropometric Measurements Vital signs –Cardinal signs –Frequently measured and recorded by a medical assistant Anthropometric measurements –Information essential for the physician to diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders Baseline –Taken during the first visit –Used as reference point

3. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Anthropometric Measurements Weight Accurate weight is required for –Pregnant patients –Infants –Children –Elderly individuals –Patients who have been prescribed certain medications

4. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Anthropometric Measurements Weight Scale –Should be placed in a spot that the patient is comfortable with –Type Balance beam scale Digital scale Dial scale –Measured in pounds or kilograms

5. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Anthropometric Measurements Height Can be measured using a –Movable ruler on the back of most balance beam scales –Graph ruler mounted on the wall –Parallel bar moved down against the top of the patient’s head

6. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Reflects a balance between heat produced and heat lost by the body Afebrile –Temperature within normal limits Febrile –Temperature above normal

7. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Measured in either Fahrenheit or Celsius using a thermometer Methods –Oral –Rectal –Axillary –Tympanic

8. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Regulated by the hypothalamus –Perspiration occurs when the hypothalamus senses that the body is too warm –Shivering occurs when the hypothalamus senses that the body is too cool

9. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Stages of fever –Usually results from a disease process –Pyrexia 102°F or higher rectally or 101°F or higher orally –Hyperpyrexia 105° to 106°F Considered dangerous

10. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Stages of fever 1.Onset 2.Course (may vary) –Sustained –Remittent –Intermittent –Relapsing 3.Resolution

11. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Temperature Types of thermometers –Glass mercury –Electronic –Tympanic –Temporal artery –Disposable

12. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Pulse Expansion and relaxation of the arteries felt at various points in the body Measured using –Two or three fingers over the pulse point –A stethoscope –A Doppler unit

13. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Pulse Characteristics –Assess Rate Rhythm Volume

14. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Respiration The exchange of gasses between the atmosphere and blood in the body The body expels carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and takes in oxygen (O 2 ) Characteristics –Rate –Rhythm –Depth

15. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Blood Pressure Measure of the pressure of the blood as it is forced against the arterial walls Systole –Phase when the heard contracts Diastole –Phase when the heart pauses briefly

16. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Blood Pressure Cardiac cycle –Period from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next Measured using –A stethoscope –A sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) Aneroid Mercury

17. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Blood Pressure Korotkoff sounds –Five phases of sounds heard while auscultating the blood pressure –Phases I and V are recorded as blood pressure Pulse pressure –Difference between the systolic and diastolic readings

18. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Vital Signs Blood Pressure Auscultatory gap –Possessed by patients with a history of hypertension –Loss of any sounds for a decrease of up to 30 mm Hg during the release of air from the blood pressure cuff

19. Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins End of Presentation