Ch. 1: Ultrasound Scripting

Question 1

Ultrasound Scripting

Call the patient by name and ____ the patient with a ____. ____ yourself,

“Hi! My name is (Insert Name) I am the Sonographer ____ and I will be performing your ____ ____ ____. For your ____, I need you to please tell me your ____ and ____ ____ ____ and say “____ ____”. Then you ____ check their ____ ____. After checking the ____ ____, take the patient to the ultrasound suite.

If you see family members waiting with the patient, tell family members about how ____ their love one will be gone so they know when to expect them back. Inform them if there are any ____ I will call the front desk or nurse to let you know about delay.

While in route to the ultrasound suite, ____ with the patient, asking only general questions/conversation. REMEMBER ____. ___ ____ ask any personal or patient history here.

If you were running behind schedule ____. “I am ____ for the delay, Thank you for your ____.”

Once in the ultrasound suite, explain the ____ to the patient. Tell the patient how long the exam will take. ____ everything you are going to do. {Make eye contact, all ____/____ communications skills personal distance, ( we learned in communication) while speaking to the patient.
Show ____ for the patient. The more comfortable the patient feels, the more they will respond.}

For example: “Your doctor has order an ____ exam. Can you tell me what ____ you to the ER/Hospital/Outpatient Imaging Center? OR What took you to go see doctor? What ____ or ____ do you have? What is ____ you? How ____? Where does it ____? Can you show me with one ____ where you hurt exactly. Make ____ of it. ( use “____” in caution. May be perceived as confrontational or judgmental. Patient may feel they have to defend themselves) {However, there are times when WHY questions are useful. To engage in true collaborative decision making, it is necessary to know the motivates of the patient}

Do you have any ____ medical history of any illness, disease or history of ____?

Do you have history of ____, ____, ____?

Have you had any ____? If so, what and when?

Ok let’s get started. I am going to have you lie down on bed face up with your head over here and gesture where). I need to have your (Insert Area) exposed for this exam. I am going to tuck this towel under your undergarment ( If they did not change into gown) so not to get them soiled with the ultrasound gel that I will apply. I am going to begin the exam it will take approximately 30 minutes. During the exam I may have you take a breath in and hold it, then breathe and change positions during the study this is all normal. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable? Do you have any questions before we get started? During course of the exam ask the patient, “How are they doing”?

Once exam is complete, inform the patient. Wipe off the ____. Assist the patient to ____ position. Wait a second and make sure the patient is ready to move. Tell the patient that their doctor will get the report within ____-____ hours. Tell your patient that there are no instructions for home care.

Walk or escort the patient where to they will go next. If patient says “Thank you”, respond with “My ____”.

Remember ____ this and it will become easier. Practice on family members or classmates and get feedback from them.

Interviewing Guidelines:

• Call the patient by ____
• Smile with your ____
• ____ yourself
• Show ____ for the patient
• Convey an ____ of competence and ____
• Sit ____ the patient
• Ask about the ____ complaint first
• Perform a ____ assessment of the patient
• Be ____
• Use ____ probing questions
• Use ____ questions and statements that the patient will ____
• Give the patient ____ to answer fully before going on to the next question
• Listen ____ and respond with ____
• Use ____
• ____ important statements
• Seek ____
• ____ the implied
• ____ getting off the subject
• Introduce ____ questions
• Utilize the section for comments in the ____ ____ Form
• ____ record the information
• Summarize
• ____ the patient

Answer 1

Ultrasound Scripting

Call the patient by name and GREET the patient with a SMILE. Introduce yourself,

“Hi! My name is ____ I am the Sonographer Intern and I will be performing your ultrasound exam today. For your SAFETY, I need you to please tell me your name and date of birth and say “thank you”. Then you physically check their arm bracelet. After checking the two identifiers, take the patient to the ultrasound suite.

If you see family members waiting with the patient, tell family members about how long their love one will be gone so they know when to expect them back. Inform them if there are any delays I will call the front desk or nurse to let you know about delay.

While in route to the ultrasound suite, converse with the patient, asking only general questions/conversation. REMEMBER HIPPA. Do NOT ask any personal or patient history here.

If you were running behind schedule apologize. “I am sorry for the delay, Thank you for your patience.”

Once in the ultrasound suite, explain the procedure to the patient. Tell the patient how long the exam will take. EXPLAIN everything you are going to do. {Make eye contact, all non-verbal/ verbal communications skills personal distance, ( we learned in communication) while speaking to the patient.
Show concern for the patient. The more comfortable the patient feels, the more they will respond.}

For example: “Your doctor has order an ultrasound exam. Can you tell me what brought you to the ER/Hospital/Outpatient Imaging Center? OR What took you to go see doctor? What symptoms or complaint do you have? What is bothering you? How long? Where does it hurt? Can you show me with one finger where you hurt exactly. Make note of it. ( use “WHY “ in caution. May be perceived as confrontational or judgmental. Patient may feel they have to defend themselves) {However, there are times when WHY questions are useful. To engage in true collaborative decision making, it is necessary to know the motivates of the patient}

Do you have any previous medical history of any illness, disease or history of cancer?

Do you have history of HBP, HTN, DM?

Have you had any surgery? If so, what and when?

Ok let’s get started. I am going to have you lie down on bed face up with your head over here and gesture where). I need to have your ____ exposed for this exam. I am going to tuck this towel under your undergarment ( If they did not change into gown) so not to get them soiled with the ultrasound gel that I will apply. I am going to begin the exam it will take approximately 30 minutes. During the exam I may have you take a breath in and hold it, then breathe and change positions during the study this is all normal. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable? Do you have any questions before we get started? During course of the exam ask the patient, “How are they doing”?

Once exam is complete, inform the patient. Wipe off the gel. Assist the patient to sitting position. Wait a second and make sure the patient is ready to move. Tell the patient that their doctor will get the report within 24-48 hours. Tell your patient that there are no instructions for home care.

Walk or escort the patient where to they will go next. If patient says “Thank you”, respond with “My Pleasure”.

Remember PRACTICE this and it will become easier. Practice on family members or classmates and get feedback from them.

Interviewing Guidelines:

• Call the patient by name
• Smile with your eyes
• Introduce yourself
• Show concern for the patient
• Convey an attitude of competence and professionalism
• Sit opposite the patient
• Ask about the chief complaint first
• Perform a visual assessment of the patient
• Be nonjudgmental
• Use short probing questions
• Use simple questions and statements that the patient will understand
• Give the patient time to answer fully before going on to the next question
• Listen attentively and respond with interest
• Use continuers
• Paraphrase important statements
• Seek clarification
• Verbalize the implied
• Avoid getting off the subject
• Introduce additional questions
• Utilize the section for comments in the Medical History Form
• Immediately record the information
• Summarize
• Thank the patient