The Basics
Patients sign this form to give healthcare providers permission to treat them before any medical procedures begin.
What is consent to treat (or informed consent)
This is the most common and convenient anatomical site used to check a patient's pulse in a doctor's office
What is the radical artery
What is BP
Blood Pressure
What are the four main vital signs
Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
What is a chief complaint?
The main reason the pt seeks care.
This major piece of federal legislation protects the privacy and security of a patient's health information and medical records.
What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
This is the average, healthy baseline oral temperature for a human being in Fahrenheit
What is 98.6°F
This term describes the temporary complete absence or cessation of breathing
What is apnea
What is the normal resting pulse rate for an adult
60-100 min
What does CC stand for?
These are the four primary vital signs measured in a standard medical environment
What are temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure
This term describes a heart rate that is dangerously fast, usually over 100 beats per minute in adults
What is tachycardia
What does the systolic pressure measure
The pressure when the heart contracts
What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult
12-20 breaths per minute
2 types of medical info collected during Pt intake
medical history and allergy information
Often called the "5th vital sign," this is measured on a scale of 0 to 10 by healthcare workersWhat is pain
What is pain
This method of taking temperature involves placing the thermometer in the armpit, and it usually reads 1 degree lower than an oral temp
What is the axillary method
Radial
Why is it important to document vital signs accurately
Current health status and provider make decisions
3 important peices of information the MA should verify/collect during intake
PT identity, Chief Complaint, and Medical history
This is the state of internal balance and stability that the body tries to maintain, which vital signs help assess.
What is homeostasis
This pulse site, located at the apex of the heart, requires a stethoscope to count and is usually checked on infants
What is the apical pulse
What is a temperature below the normal range is called?
Hypothermia
What vital sign should be measured without the patients knowledge?
Respirations
Why should the MA ask about allergies?
To prevent allergic reactions to medication/treatments