EMT Chapter 15

 In contrast to the assessment of a trauma patient, assessment of a medical patient:

•  almost exclusively focuses on physical signs that indicate the patient is experiencing a problem

•  is focused on the nature of illness, the patient’s chief complaint, and his or her symptoms

• requires a thorough head-to-toe exam that involves a detailed assessment of all body systems.

•  is not as complex for the EMT because most patients typically present with classic symptoms

An index of suspicion is MOST accurately defined as:

•  the EMT’s prediction of the type of illness a patient has based on how the call is dispatched

•  your awareness and concern for potentially serious underlying and unseen injuries or illness

•  ruling out specific medical conditions based on the absence of certain signs and symptoms

• determining the underlying cause of a patient’s medical condition based on signs and symptoms

Upon initial contact with a patient who appears to be unconscious, you should:

• assess breathing depth and determine the respiratory rate

•  squeeze the trapezius muscle to see if the patient responds

• attempt to elicit a verbal response by talking to the patient

•  direct your partner to apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask

When assessing a patient with a medical complaint, which of the following would MOST likely reveal the cause of the problem?

• Medical history

•  Index of suspicion

• Baseline vital signs

• Primary assessment

 It is especially important to assess pulse, sensation, and movement in all extremities as well as pupillary reactions in patients with a suspected ___________ problem

• cardiac

• endocrine

• respiratory

• neurologic

Reassessment of a patient with a medical complaint should begin by:

• reassessing the nature of illness

•  taking another set of vital signs

• repeating the primary assessment

• reviewing all treatment performed

The primary prehospital treatment for most medical emergencies:

•  typically does not require the EMT to contact medical control

•  focuses on definitive care because a diagnosis can usually be made

•  addresses the patient’s symptoms more than the actual disease process

•  involves transport only until treatment can be performed at the hospital

After sizing up the scene of a patient with a possible infectious disease, your next priority should be to:

•  contact medical control

•  take standard precautions

• quickly access the patient

• notify law enforcement

 In addition to obtaining a SAMPLE history and asking questions related to the chief complaint, what else should you specifically inquire about when assessing a patient with a potentially infectious disease?

• Recent travel

• HIV status

• Sexual practices

• Drug allergies

Hepatitis B is more virulent than hepatitis C, which means that it:

•  is less resistant to treatment

•  is a more contagious type of disease

•  has a greater ability to produce disease

•  leads to chronic infection after exposure