Chp 15 Your Approach to the Medical Patient Flashcards
Acute Medical Condition
the sudden onset of a new illness or worsening of an existing (chronic) medical condition
Medical Patient
a patient whose chief complaint is related to an acute illness or disease process
Time on Scene
the time spent on scene assessing, caring for, and preparing the patient for transport
Chronic Medical Condition
an existing, recurrent medical condition
Mentation
the mental activity of a patient
Trauma Patient
a patient whose chief complaint is related to sudden injury
History of Present Illness
the medical history related to the patient’s chief complaint
Past Medical History
the medical history related to prior illness or events
15-2 Differentiate a medical patient from a trauma patient.
15-2.1 Medical patients are those patients whose chief complaint is directly related to or most likely related to, a disease process or illness.
15-2.2 Trauma patients are those patients whose chief complaint is directly related to some sort of injury.
15-3 Discuss the importance of differentiating the medical patient from the trauma patient.
15-3.1 When dealing with a medical patient you will center on a complete and thorough patient history which is through interviewing skills.
15-3.2 Trauma approach centers on your physical assessment of the injured body part or area.
15-4 Discuss the importance of the general impression.
15-4.1 It is the gut feeling that develops so you can decided if the patient is big sick or little sick. It is developed on various information
15-4.1.1 from your page-out
15-4.1.2 the patient’s mentation(awake and responding),
15-4.1.3 color of patents face, palms, and oral mucosa.
15-4.1.4 Level of distress either pain or difficulty breathing
15-5 Describe the elements of the history of the present illness
15-5.1 Ask the patient in their own words why you are there.
15-5.1.1 Do this even if dispatch, other family member, or caregiver have already told you the problem.
15-5.2 Develop a line of questioning that focuses on the signs and symptoms related to the chief complaint.
15-5.3 These questions should get you through SAMPLE and OPQRST
15-5.3.1 SAMPLE – Signs and Symptoms; Allergies; Medications; Pertinent Past medical history; Last oral intake; Events leading to call
15-5.3.2 OPQRST – Onset of pain/illness; Provocation; Quality (sharp-dull); Region/Radiation; Severity (1-10); Time (How long)
15-6 Describe the elements of the past medical history.
15-6.1 Prescribed medications
15-6.2 Purpose for taking prescribed medications
15-6.3 Past Surgeries
15-6.4 Recent Doctor Visits
15-6.5 Current Signs and Symptoms similar to those experienced before.
15-7 Discuss the role of time on scene with the medical patient
15-7.1 Time on scene is dictated by the incident at hand
15-7.1.1 Interventions such as oxygen, administration of meds, patient positioning and obtaining a thorough history are best done on scene.
15-7.1.2 Some cases are handled best with getting the patient to the hospital as fast as possible to get advanced care. Examples given are Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke.
15-7.1.3 Requesting ALS Advanced Life Support is always an option.
15-8 Discuss the importance of choosing the appropriate receiving facility when caring for medical patients.
15-8.1 Sometimes patients are better suited by bypassing one hospital and being routed to another that specializes in that type of care.
