Empathy and Communication
What NOT to Do
Obligations of the Sonographer
Privacy, Consent, and Refusal
Infection Control
100
As we move through our lives, we pick up a variety of skills, often unexpectantly. Much like exercising or doing puzzles, we must always be working on how to practice empathy. How does sympathy differ from empathy?
Sympathy is more feeling "sorry" for the patients, whereas empathy is understanding what the patient is feeling.
100
First patient of the day, and she's a nervous Nellie who is very concerned about the pain she's feeling in her abdomen. During the scan, she starts asking questions about what you're looking at and if there is anything weird. What is a proper way to respond?
We can tell her what organ we're looking at, but we cannot tell her if there is anything wrong diagnostically (even if we know).
100
Sonography is multitasking, and despite our own personal issues, pressure from peers and patients, time restraints, and challenging patients, we must always focus on this aspect of our job.
Optimizing the images.
100
Because we are often scanning sensitive areas on the body, we should assume modesty for everyone during the procedure. Name two ways we can respect the privacy of our patients while scanning vulnerable areas.
As we move from scanning one location to the next, make sure the former location is covered.
Keep doors and curtains closed.
Allow the patient to change on their own (if they don't need help).
Knock before entering the room and announce yourself.
100
This organization is responsible for many of the safety precautions we take not just in hospitals, but at construction sites, restaurants, and even retail! Their guidelines for how to care for patients with infectious diseases are consistent across all hospitals and considered the Universal Precautions.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration)!
200
To work in healthcare is to have the desire to care for others and make those around us who are suffering or sick as comfortable as possible. What is this desire called?
Compassion!
200
During scanning, we are meant to have a grasp on anatomy, physiology, and pathology in order to provide the best images for diagnostic purposes. We will be seeing things like masses, cysts, and abrasions and be able to recognize them as such. However, this is not something we can communicate to the patient. Why?
We are sonographers, not physicians. The doctor will provide the report at the end of the day.
200
Khalila has a moral imperative to help her patients and perform her responsibilities to the best of her ability. She is also legally required to maintain a certain cleanliness of transducers, rooms, and other equipment she comes into contact with. These are examples of what?
Obligations.
200
What is HIPAA (and why did I think it was HIPPA all these years?!)?
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
200
The CDC, compared to OSHA, assumes all patients are sick and may pose a risk to the medical providers and the other patients. Their main goals is to reduce the risk of infection spreading through these three mediums.
Airborne, contact, and droplet.
300
Despite the fast-paced environment and the pressure from our peers and patients to provide the best images possible, we must also be considerate of our patients needs. What are some ways we can practice empathy and compassion?
We can give our patients helpful information, sympathetic words, physical comfort (blankets, water, etc), and listen to them.
300
Raine has been struggling since she started her sonography career a year ago. She often comes in disheveled and with a bad attitude. She's not trying to learn on the new machine the hospital provided, and just last week her credentials expired and now she's going to have to re-take the registry exam entirely!
What is Raine an example of?
What NOT to do for longevity!
300
For whom and what are we obligated to maintain compassion, empathy, and competence for as sonographers and healthcare providers (4)?
Peers, patients, our profession, and ourselves.
300
These types of ultrasounds require a written consent form to be signed before it can begin, and are often accompanied by another person in the room to protect both the patient and the sonographer.
Invasive ultrasounds, such as intravaginal, rectal, and scrotal.
300
This simple act that we preform multiple times daily when interacting with patients is the single most important act against the spread of infection.
Hand washing!
400
Abby is working with a patient who speaks a different language, but they're bridging the gap via a translating app on her phone. Although they are communicating more efficiently and Abby is able to explain the procedure thoroughly, Abby's face and shoulders are scrunched in frustration and she is almost snatching the phone out of the patient's hand when it is her turn to respond. What type of communication is speaking louder in this situation?
The non-verbal communication. It can be equally as upsetting or confusing as what is being said.
400
True/False: Good patient care means a good patient experience.
False! Just because the patient leave happy does not mean the images taken were the best quality. It's a balance!
400
While we don't share many things with gamblers, there are some times we have may see something shocking, disturbing, or disgusting that we must maintain this quality.
Maturity: professionalism and a good poker face.
400
HIPAA is very strict about how to best protect the patient's privacy and medical information. These are the very common, but serious, way a medical professional could breach HIPAA (4).
Leaving patient information on the screen of a computer.
Leaving patient information on an image they are using for class.
Talking about a patient in a public area.
Discussing patient information with a family member.
400
During the lab last week, we learned how to don and doff PPE when entering isolation rooms for infectious (or immunocompromised) patients. What PPE is recommended by the CDC?
Nonporous gloves
Goggle/face shield
Mask
Gown
500
As students, there is going to be a lot to remember as we're speaking to patients alongside the scanning itself. We practiced some of these initial conversations in lab, but they will differ once we sit down with a patient after the introduction. What goals are we trying to achieve when we explain an ultrasound examination to the patient (6)?
Explain the procedure itself in terms they can understand
What is going to be scanned/what will be touched
Why it was ordered
When the result will be available
If they should expect any discomfort
Answer questions and listen to their concerns
500
In the example from the text, we can relate to both the sonographer, Sam, and the patient who was being scanned. While the patient could have spoken up more, Sam also was a bit oblivious to her discontent. What are some ways we can ensure the patient's physical comfort during a scan?
Warn them about the gel.
Offer them a blanket if they're cold, or a pillow to lean on.
Help adjust them into a position we can scan in and they can hold comfortably.
Let them know where and when they're going to be touched.
500
Obligations are not just the moral calling to do the right thing, but may also be something the sonographer is legally bound to do by federal organization, like HIPAA, OSHA, the CDC, and their individual hospital. What must they do to remain in good standing by these agencies?
Following protocols for safety, privacy, and infection control.
500
FREE SPACE! You're doing amazing! Here is a picture of my cat. Her name is Nyx and she is a menace.
500
There are some patients that we don PPE for not to protect ourselves, but to protect them from the diseases we could expose them to. These patients, also called immunocompromised, are also called this.
Neutropenic.
600
Hassan has been working as a sonographer for five years, and has perfected many aspects of patient care. He always thanks the patient for allowing him to scan, asks questions and pays attention to their answers, has the room cleaned, set up, and ready for the patient to arrive, and if he is using the portable ultrasound, leaves the room exactly as it was when he came in. What qualities of good patient care is he displaying with his approach (4)?
Communication, respect, support, and friendliness.
600
Emma has been working for a few months on her clinical site, and per her instructor is producing good quality scans given her experience. However, she is marked down consistently for how long she takes scanning patients. She also took a patient back that had an appointment over the more urgent case that had walked in. Her instructor is very patient, but she is trying to teach her the value of this quality.
Time efficiency!
600
In Sam's story from the textbook, his appointment did not start off on the right foot when the receptionist let Sam know his "gallbladder" had arrived. Why would this be considered disrespectful to the patient?
Patients are human beings, first and foremost.
600
Vanessa brought her portable ultrasound to a hospitalized patient in the ICU, who is uncomfortable and upset about being there. When she arrived, the patient and a family member were arguing about the necessity of the procedure. The patient refuses to allow it to happen, but the family member is insisting it be done. Should Vanessa perform the ultrasound despite the patient refusing permission?
No!
600
Portable ultrasounds have become commonplace in many hospitals nowadays, and are the preferred machine for many who prefer to travel around the hospital rather than have patients come to them. As well as being convenient, they pose a great alternative to patients who might have a hard time getting around. Portable ultrasound is ideal for these types of patients.
Fall Risks
Intubated
Unconscious/sedated
Non-ambulatory