Chapter 22 - Preparing the examination and treatment area. 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.
PowerPoint® to accompany Medical Assisting Chapter 22 Second Edition Ramutkowski Booth Pugh Thompson Whicker Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Permission required for reproduction or display Preparing the Examination and Treatment Area Objectives 221 Explain the medical assistant’s role in preparing the examination room 222 Describe the layout and features of a typical examination room 223 Describe steps to prevent the spread of infection in the examination room 224 Explain how and when to disinfect examination room surfaces Preparing the Examination and Treatment Area Objectives (cont.) 225 Describe the importance of such factors as temperature, lighting, and ventilation in the examination room 226 Identify instruments and supplies used in a general physical examination, and tell how to arrange and prepare them 227 Explain how to eliminate hazards to physical safety in the examination room The Medical Assistant’s Role in Preparing the Examination Room Maintain neatness and cleanliness of the room Ensure that all supplies and equipment needed are present for the physician’s use Make certain that potential safety hazards are eliminated The Medical Assistant’s Role in Preparing the Examination Room (cont.) The Examination Room The area where the physician: • Observes the patient • Listens to patient symptoms • Performs a general physical examination Number and Size of Rooms • Depends on the number of physicians in the medical practice • Average size room is 8 X 12 ft • Rooms should be large enough for patient, physician and medical assistant yet small enough to have supplies within reach Furnishings Should be arranged for: Efficiency Patient Comfort Physician Convenience Common Items Found In Examination Rooms • One or more chairs • A rolling stool • Weight scale • Biohazard container • Puncture proof containers • Wall brackets • High intensity lamp Special Features The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that ‘reasonable accommodations” be made for the disabled Doorway must be at least 36 inches wide ADA Accessibility Guidelines Door closers adjusted to allow entry and exit time Grab bars must be present in lavatories Must have door opening hardware that can be grasped Space in rooms and hallways must be at least 60 inches wide Slipresistant floor Cleanliness in the Examination Room Infection Control Remember to: • Keep examining table clean • Make hand washing a priority • Disinfect all work surfaces • • • • • • • Wash Hands: At the beginning of the day Before and after contact each patient Before and after using gloves Before and after eating After coughing or blowing your nose Before handling clean or sterile equipment Before leaving for the day Cleanliness in the Examination Room (cont.) Examining Table Always change the disposable paper that covers the examination table after each use Dispose of paper coverings soiled by body fluids in a biohazardous waste container Also place soiled linens and pillowcases in biohazardlabeled bags Cleanliness in the Examination Room (cont.) Surfaces Disinfect work surfaces such as the: Sink & Countertops Wastebaskets Examination Table Toilets Storage Store biohazardous specimens properly Store “testing kits” according to protocol. Many test kits require refrigeration 10 Medical Instruments and Supplies To maintain instruments and supplies the medical assistant must: Order and stock all needed supplies Sanitize, disinfect, and/or sterilize instruments as needed See that all instruments and supplies are placed within easy reach for the physician 15 Medical Instruments and Supplies (cont.) Instrument Purpose Anoscope Used to open the anus for examination Examination Light Laryngeal Mirror Provides additional lighting Nasal Speculum Used to enlarge the opening of the nose Ophthalmoscope Used to examine the inner eye surfaces Reflects inside of mouth and throat 16 Medical Instruments and Supplies (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 Stethoscope Used to listen to body sounds 17 Medical Instruments and Supplies (cont.) Instrument Purpose Thermometer Used to measure size or development of an area Used to measure body temperature Tuning Fork Tests patients’ hearing Vaginal Speculum Used to enlarge the vagina for specimens from cervix and vagina Tape Measure 18 Medical Instruments and Supplies (cont.) Inspecting and Maintaining Instruments Be sure instruments are in good working order Arranging Instruments Keep instruments in same location, either: Mounted on wall Out on countertop Set on a clean towel or tray Preparing Instruments Some instruments require warming Cleaning Instruments Place used instruments in a container and always handle carefully 19 Medical Instruments and Supplies (cont.) Curettes Cervical Scraper Cotton balls Disposable Needles Disposable syringes Cottontipped applicators Glass slides Sterile and clean gloves Paper tissues Specimen containers Gauze, dressings, and bandages Occult blood test slides Tongue depressors 20 Medical Instruments and Supplies (cont.) Consumable Supplies • Supplies that can be used up Storing Supplies • Be sure to keep needles, medications, and prescription pads locked up and out of patient reach Restocking Supplies A good rule is to reorder when the first half of a box, tube, or bottle has been used 21 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? sphygmomanometer stethoscope penlight nasal speculum laryngeal mirror tuning fork reflex hammer ophthalmoscope anoscope otoscope tape measure 22 Apply Your Knowledge Answer 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? stethoscope *penlight penlight *nasal speculum nasal speculum *laryngeal mirror laryngeal mirror *tuning fork tuning fork reflex hammer *ophthalmoscope ophthalmoscope anoscope otoscope *otoscope tape measure sphygmomanometer 23 Physical Safety in the Examination Room Keeping the examination room free of hazards is a vital part of a risk management plan Keep the following areas of the examination room free from potential hazards: Floor Cabinets and Drawers Furniture Cords and Cables 24 Special Safety Precautions Children • Keep medication and dangerous items out of reach • Toys should be washable and safe • Be sure toys do not have any sharp surfaces Patients with Physical Disabilities Safe flooring and handrails help prevent falls in the reception area, bathroom, hallways, and the examination room. 25 Fire Safety Fire Prevention • Be sure to store and dispose hazardous substances. • Post “No Smoking” signs in office areas In Case of Fire • Have a safe evacuation route. • Locate area fire extinguishers 26 Apply Your Knowledge The medical assistant has received the recently ordered office cleaning supplies. When unpacking the cleaning solutions for storage, it is apparent that two new disinfectant solutions are present that the medical assistant is unfamiliar with. How should the medical assistant handle this? A Store the solutions with the other cleaning solutions in usual cabinet B Lock the new solution up in a separate cabinet C Read the label carefully, and check the MSDS information before storing the liquids 27 Apply Your Knowledge Answer The medical assistant has received the recently ordered office cleaning supplies. When unpacking the cleaning solutions for storage, it is apparent that two new disinfectant solutions are present that the medical assistant is unfamiliar with. How should the medical assistant handle this? A Store the solutions with the other cleaning solutions in usual cabinet B Lock the new solution up in a separate cabinet C Read the label carefully, and check the MSDS information before storing the liquids 28 End of Chapter 29 ...Preparing the Examination and Treatment Area Objectives 22 1 Explain the medical assistant’s role in preparing the examination room 22 2 Describe the layout and features of a typical examination room 22 3 Describe steps to prevent the spread of infection in ... temperature, lighting, and ventilation in the examination room 22 6 Identify instruments and supplies used in a general physical examination, and tell how to arrange and prepare them 22 7 Explain how to eliminate hazards to physical safety ... clean and fresh 14 Medical Instruments and Supplies To maintain instruments and supplies the medical assistant must: Order and stock all needed supplies Sanitize, disinfect, and/ or sterilize instruments