Chapter 19

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Chapter 19Medical Assistant Skills
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I. Career Medical Assistant

• A. Education
• A.S.
• Diploma
• Certificate HOE program
• B. Schools
• Winter Park Tech
• BCC (Brevard)
• Seminole CC
• Florida Metropolitan University
• C. Certified or Registered

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D. Salary Range
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• D. Salary
• 20,000 - 22,500/yr
• If Basic XRay Machine Operator certification
  (BXMO) salary is additional 5-10,000/yr
• E. Duties
• Prepare patient for exams
• Take vital signs
• TPR, BP, Ht, and Wt
• Assist MD with procedures
• Perform EKG, phlebotomy, administer some
  medications
• Secretarial or receptionist duties
• If certified basic XRay

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II. Measuring and Recording Ht Wt

• A. Used to determine if a person is within the
  normal range
• Height-weight charts used
• Ht/Wt outside of norm may indicate presence of
  disease
• B. Accuracy is essential

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• C. Times measurements are done
• Admission to health care facility
• Part of general physical exam
• Evaluation of lab tests or medications
• D. Daily weights
• Pt. with edema (swelling)
• Pt. with cardiac problems
• Use the same scale each day at the same time with
  same amount of clothing on pt.

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• E. Safety factors
• Observe pt. for signs of dizziness, weakness
• Avoid injury from height lever
• Pt. to wear non-skid slippers
• F. Types of scales
• Upright (clinical)
• Bed scale with mechanical lift
• Bed scale built into bed
• Wheelchair scale

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• G. Recording weight
• Pounds (lbs.)
• Kilograms (kg)
• Equivalents 1 kg 2.2 lbs

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III. Length

• A. Symbols
• Inch or in.
• Foot or ft.
• M meter
• cm centimeter
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• B. Equivalents
• 12 1 ft.
• 1 2.5 cm

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• C. Changing in. to ft. and in.
• Divide by 12 whole number is ft.
• Leftover is inches
• D. Changing ft. and in. to in.
• Multiply ft. by 12 and add in.
• E. Changing in. to cm multiply by 2.5
• F. Changing cm to in. divide by 2.5
•  

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IV. Weight

• A. Symbols
• Pounds lbs.
• Kilograms kg
• Grams gm
• Milligram mg
• B. Equivalents
• 1 Kg 2.2 lb.
• 1 lb. 0.45 kg

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• Changing kg to lb multiply by 2.2
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• D. Changing lb. to kg divide by 2.2
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• E. Use of scale
• Zero balance
• Move 50 lb. one increment at a time until the
  level bar drops
• Move the 50 lb. marker back
• Move top weight until level bar is even
• Read weight by adding the 50 lb increment with
  the top weight

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V. Vision Screening

• Vision screening test
• 1. Check the visual acuity
• 2. Snellen charts
• a) Letters
• b) Symbol (E) or objects
• Procedure
• 1. Pt. stands 20 feet away
• 2. Cover one eye (do not close eyelid)
• 3. Point to different letters, symbols, objects
  randomly
• 4. Check with corrective lens (glasses) then
  without
• 5. Observe pt. for squinting

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• Vision screening readings
• 1. 20/20 considered normal
• 2. First number is what the patient can see at
  20 feet away
• 3. Second number is where other people will
  stand to see the object
• 4. 20/100 Pt is at 20 feet everyone else at
  100 feet away
• Terms
• 1. Myopia nearsighted
• 2. Hyperopia farsighted
• 3. od R, ou both, os left

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VI. Roman Numerals

• Common Roman Numerals
• 1. I 1
• V 5
• X 10
• L 50
• C 100
• M 1000
• 2. If the number to the right is smaller, add
  the number
• 3. If the number to the left is smaller,
  subtract the number

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VII. 2400/ International Time

• All time is given in 4 digits
• 1. First 2 digits is hours since midnight
• 2. Second 2 digits is minutes since top of hour
• 3. No , No a.m. or p.m.
• Will allow for everyone to know the time without
  getting confused about a.m. or p.m.
• Examples
• 105 a.m. 0105
• 105 p.m. 1305