Lesson 1

Responding to a Medical Office Emergency

Chapter 43: Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness

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Define and spell the terms to learn for this chapter.

List the steps of a primary assessment.

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Lesson Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to …

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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 Associationis 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

QuestionDoes the Good

Samaritan Law protect an MA in the office?

Critical Thinking Question

Does the Good Samaritan Law protect an MA in the office?

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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.

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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.

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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 AssessmentCritical Thinking

QuestionWhat 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 ResponsePrimary 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 ResponsePrimary Assessment Obtain a history of

the event

Insert Figure 12-2 fromPCMA 2e

Medical Assistant’s Emergency ResponsePrimary Assessment Gather medication

information

Insert Figure 53-4 fromPCMA 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 ResponsePrimary Assessment

Determine patient’s allergies

Medical Assistant’s Emergency Response

Take the vital signs

Primary Assessment

Insert Figure 33-13from PCMA 1e p. 606

Office Emergency Crash Kit

Insert Figure 43-2 from PCMA 2eInsert 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 itemsCritical Thinking

QuestionWhat 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?