Acute Care Flashcards
What is unique about the patient population in Acute Care?
- Patients potentially medically fragile
- May have gone through a life changing event
- High stress for patient and for family
What is different about an Acute Care environment?
- Variety of Acute Care settings
- Patient may be connected to equipment or monitoring
- Interdisciplinary approach
How might the exam be different than an outpatient setting?
- Need to know medical status at that moment (lab values, precautions, etc)
- Consideration for high stress situations for patient and care givers
- Rapid changes in status
- Discharge often takes place prior to full recovery
How might the exam be the same?
- ICF model- patient centered
- Past medical history
- Thorough systems review
- Prioritize impairments
- Assess – Treat– Reassess
- Address Fear
- Deciding when it is appropriate to treat and when to refer
Health Care Continuum (Most Intensive to Least Intensive)
Most Intensive
- ICU Medical/Surgical
- Rehab Unit (hospital), Subacute Unit (SNF)
- Home Care, Assistive Living
- Outpatient Clinic, Urgent Care
- Independent HEP
Least Intensive
Intensive Care Units =
Highest Risk Settings
(Intensive Monitoring – medically fragile
Cognitive & behavioral assessment
Treatment is bedside)
Ex: NICU, CCU, Transplant ICU
NICU stands for (2)
Neurological ICU
Neonatal ICU
CCU stands for
Coronary Care Unit
Surgical Acute Care
Step down from ICU
More medically stable / less fragile
Rehab progression functionally oriented
Treatment at bedside or in the PT inpatient gym setting
Ex: Total knee surgery. Looking at what they need to do next to be able to function.
Who would assess Dysphagia?
Speech Language Pathologist
Who would assess CN and DTR?
PT, Physician, OT
Who would assess cognitive and perceptual functions?
PT, Psychologist, OT, Neurologist
Who would assess safety in locomotion for DC to home
PT
Who would assess capacity to bathe and dress self
OT
Who would assess BP and Hr at regular intervals?
Nurse
How should you prepare to see a patient in an Acute Care setting?
- Chart review (Current lab values, why they are here, family factors)
- Informed consent/Advanced directives
- Consultation with IDT(interdisciplinary team)/ nurse
- Mental review of considerations for or contraindications to treatment
- Develop a flexible plan