Vocab 1
This set of practices aims to prevent the introduction of any microorganisms into a sterile surgical field.
What is surgical asepsis?
System that provides urgent pre-hospital treatment and care.
Emergency medical services (EMS)
According to the text, the time period immediately following a severe injury or sudden critical illness that is considered the most crucial for the patient's outcome is often called the "what" hour?
What is "golden" hour?
This common method of closing wounds uses a needle and thread to hold tissue together during healing.
What is suturing?
This is the first step a medical assistant should take when a patient calls the office during an emergency.
What is obtain critical information? (ie. patient name, contact info, and location/situation and when it started/status of patient)
The surgical removal of tissue for later microscopic examination.
What is biopsy?
Lifesaving technique that consists of chest compressions combined with artificial ventilation.
What is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
A nurse is preparing to insert a central venous catheter into a patient. According to sterile technique principles, what would be the most appropriate action?
What is using sterile gloves and a sterile gown, maintaining a sterile field around the insertion site?
These sutures are broken down by the body and do not need to be removed
What are absorbable sutures?
This term refers to the first hour after an injury or medical emergency, when rapid care is crucial.
What is the golden hour?
Portable cart stocked with emergency supplies, also termed an emergency kit.
Crash cart
Escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel.
What is hemorrhage?
A medical assistant is preparing for a minor surgical procedure and retrieves a pre-packaged instrument kit. To ensure the contents are sterile and safe for use, they must check this indicator on the packaging for a color change and verify the recorded date.
What is sterilization indicator?
This type of wound closure is made of stainless steel and is applied with a surgical tool for rapid closure.
What are surgical staples?
Name three examples of life-threatening situations a medical assistant should be able to identify.
What are cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and uncontrolled bleeding? (Accept any three from the list.)
The flow of blood that brings oxygen to the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked, and if not restored quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die and cardiac arrest can occur.
What is myocardial infarction (HA)?
Superficial reddening of the skin.
What is erythema?
Before leaving the clinic after a minor surgical procedure, a patient is given written guidelines covering topics such as wound care, activity limitations, and when to schedule their next appointment. These are known as what?
What is discharge instructions?
A suture labeled 6-0 (000000) would most likely be used on this part of the body due to its fine nature and lower risk of scarring.
What is the face or neck?
According to emergency protocol, what should a medical assistant never do if an object has penetrated the patient?
What is remove the object?
Lancing a fluid or pressure buildup under the skin to allow it to drain and relieve pressure.
What is incision & drainage (I & D)?
Procedure that uses an endoscope to view a hollow organ or body cavity, such as the larynx, bladder, colon, sigmoid colon, stomach, abdomen, and some joints.
What is endoscopy?
When a patient calls reporting an emergency, a medical assistant's initial focus should be on gathering a specific set of vital details to facilitate appropriate action. What is this critical information the MA must obtain?
What is the patient's name, contact information, and location; what the situation is and when it did start; and the status of the patient—conscious, breathing, presence of pulse?
This type of closure material forms a strong bond when it reacts with water and is commonly used on small, low-tension wounds.
What are skin adhesives?
List three things a medical assistant must be trained in to respond to emergencies, as part of their preparedness training.
What are CPR, AED use, and managing wounds and bleeding? (Also acceptable: airway obstruction response, bandaging, splinting.)