In this chapter you will learn about the common layouts of examination rooms; keeping the rooms clean and stocked with instruments, disposable, and consumable supplies; maintaining the comfort of the room; and making the room safe for patients and coworkers. You will also be introduced to the requirements for accessibility established by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
CHAPTER Examination and Treatment Areas 9-2 Learning Outcomes (cont.) 9.1 Describe the layout and features of a typical examination room 9.2 Differentiate between sanitization and disinfection 9.3 List steps to prevent the spread of infection in the exam and treatment rooms 9-3 Learning Outcomes (cont.) 9.4 Describe the importance of temperature, lighting, and ventilation in the exam room 9.5 Identify instruments and supplies used in a general physical exam and tell how to arrange and prepare them 9-4 Introduction • Care and maintenance of exam room – Equipment – Supplies – Infection control practices 9-5 The Exam Room • Number and size of rooms – Two per physician – Accommodate the physician, patient, and one assistant – Supplies and equipment must be in reach 9-6 Furnishings • Arrangement – Efficiency – Patient comfort – Physician convenience • Examining table – Step – Drawers – Adjustable positioning 9-7 Furnishings • Items commonly found in exam rooms One or more chairs Wastebasket with lid A rolling stool Puncture-proof Weight scale Biohazard container containers Wall brackets High-intensity lamp 9-8 Special Features • The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Requires “reasonable accommodations” – Accessibility – Guidelines 9-9 Apply Your Knowledge When arranging an examination room, what three things should you consider? ANSWER: You need to consider efficiency, patient comfort, and physician convenience when arranging an examination room Right! 9-10 Sanitization and Disinfection • Sanitization – For cleaning items that touch only healthy, intact skin – First step in disinfection and sterilization for other equipment 9-26 Apply Your Knowledge Why is it important to have good lighting in the examination room? ANSWER: Good lighting is needed for making accurate diagnoses, performing medical procedures, reading orders and instructions, and preventing accidents 9-27 Medical Instruments and Supplies • Maintain instruments and supplies – Order and stock all needed supplies – Sanitize, disinfect, and/or sterilize instruments as needed – Instruments and supplies should be placed within easy reach for the physician 9-28 Instruments Used in a General Physical Exam Instrument Purpose Anoscope Used to open the anus for examination Exam light Provides additional lighting Laryngeal mirror Reflects inside of mouth and throat Nasal speculum Used to enlarge the opening of the nose Ophthalmoscope Used to examine the inner eye surfaces Instruments for a General Physical Exam (cont.) Instrument Purpose Otoscope Used to examine the inner ear Penlight Small flashlight used to view a small area Reflex hammer Used to check patient’s reflexes Sphygmomanometer Used to measure blood pressure 9-29 9-30 Instruments for a General Physical Exam (cont.) Instrument Purpose Stethoscope Used to listen to body sounds Tape measure Used to measure size or development of an area Thermometer Used to measure body temperature Tuning fork Vaginal speculum Used to test hearing Used to enlarge the vagina for specimens from cervix and vagina Instruments for a General Physical Exam (cont.) • Inspecting and maintaining instruments • Arranging instruments – Mounted on wall – Out on countertop – Set on a clean towel or tray 9-31 Instruments for a General Physical Exam (cont.) • Preparing instruments • Cleaning instruments – Dispose of supplies in the appropriate containers – Use approved procedures for sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing 9-32 9-33 Supplies for a General Physical Exam Needles and Syringes Curettes Cervical scraper Sterile and clean gloves Cotton balls Cotton-tipped applicators Gauze, dressings, and bandages Specimen containers Paper tissues Occult blood test slides Glass slides Tongue depressors Supplies for a General Physical Exam (cont.) • Consumable supplies – Fixative – Isopropyl alcohol – Lubricant • Be sure patients not have access to – Prescription blanks – Drugs – Needles 9-34 Supplies for a General Physical Exam (cont.) • Store supplies – Label drawers – Put items back in correct place – Routinely straighten and clean • Restocking supplies 9-35 9-36 Apply Your Knowledge A medical assistant is preparing the treatment room for a local ENT specialist Which of the following instruments might be used in this office to assess patient ear, nose, and throat functioning? ANSWER: stethoscope *penlight penlight *nasal nasal speculum speculum *laryngeal mirror laryngeal mirror reflex hammer *ophthalmoscope ophthalmoscope otoscope *otoscope tape measure sphygmomanometer *tuning tuningfork fork anoscope Good Choices! 9-37 In Summary 9.1 A typical examination room is about by 12 feet, large enough to accommodate the physician, the patient, and one assistant Instruments and equipment in the room should be easily accessible 9.2 Sanitization is the scrubbing of instruments and equipment with special brushes and detergent to remove blood, mucus, and other contaminants or media where pathogens can grow Disinfection uses special cleaning products applied to instruments and equipment to reduce or eliminate infectious organisms 9-38 In Summary (cont.) 9.3 Steps involved in preventing the spread of infection in the examination room include covering the examination table with a paper cover and changing the cover between each patient It is also important to disinfect all surfaces that come in contact with blood or body fluids after each patient, and at the beginning and end of the day 9.4 It is important that patients feel comfortable in the examination room A comfortably warm, well lit, and properly ventilated room will help the patient feel comfortable during his examination 9-39 In Summary (cont.) 9.5 A variety of instruments and supplies are used in a general physical examination To ensure the examination room always has the necessary instruments and supplies, the medical assistant should order and stock all supplies needed for examinations and treatment procedures; keep the instruments sanitized, disinfected, or sterilized and in working order; and place all instruments and supplies where the physician can easily reach them 9-40 End of Chapter ... the Exam and Treatment Areas • Clean and well organized • Safeguards – Making hand hygiene a priority; – Keeping the examining table clean; and – Disinfecting all work surfaces 9- 17 9- 18 Infection... infection in the exam and treatment rooms 9- 3 Learning Outcomes (cont.) 9. 4 Describe the importance of temperature, lighting, and ventilation in the exam room 9. 5 Identify instruments and supplies used.. .9- 2 Learning Outcomes (cont.) 9. 1 Describe the layout and features of a typical examination room 9. 2 Differentiate between sanitization and disinfection 9. 3 List steps to prevent