solution: PATIENT SCREENING ??????For each of the following…

  

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PATIENT SCREENING ??????For each of the following…

PATIENT SCREENING

??????For each of the following scenarios, explain how and why you would schedule an appointment or suggest a referral based on the patient’s reported symptoms. First review the “Guidelines for Patient-Screening Exercises” found on bottom of the page ???????
(Resources and References at the bottom of page)

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1. A father calls the office saying that his 6-year-old son is experiencing a speech pattern of frequent repetitions or prolongations of sounds or syllables. The fluency of his normal speech is punctuated with broken words and word repetitions. How do you respond to this call?

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2. The daughter of an older patient calls saying that her father is experiencing loss of short-term memory, the inability to concentrate, impairment of reasoning, and subtle changes in personality. He also is restless, having trouble sleep- ing, and combative. How do you handle this call?

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3. A female patient calls the office stating that she is experiencing deep and persistent sadness, despair, and hopelessness. She says that she is having problems sleeping and does not want to eat. This started a few days ago and is getting worse. She wants help. How do you handle this call?

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4. A patient’s husband calls the office saying that his wife is having problems sleeping and is irritable. She is having nightmares about a fatal automobile accident she witnessed 3 months ago. She refuses to ride in a car. He is request- ing an appointment. How do you handle this call?

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5. A male patient calls the office and tells you that he is having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. He also says that he is physically and mentally tired, groggy, tense, irritable, and anxious in the morning. He states that his sleep is not restorative. How do you handle this call?

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6. A 45-year-old female patient calls the office asking for an appointment as she recently has been experiencing what she labels “panic attacks.” She says these attacks have started suddenly and that she is experiencing palpitations, has a rapid pulse, and is short of breath during the attacks. She also relates that she gets really sweaty, trembles, and experiences chest pain and dizziness. She says she feels that she is going “crazy.” How do you handle this call?

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7. A 30-year-old male patient calls the office stating that he is having problems controlling his urge to drink. During the last month he has experienced being arrested for public intoxication, and he states that he cannot go through that again. His job is in jeopardy and he needs help stopping drinking. How do you handle this call?

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8. A father calls to report that his 4-year-old son has stepped on a nail in a board. The child pulled his foot off the-board and nail, and the foot looks red around the site. He wants to know what to do. How do you handle this call?

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9. A patient calls the office complaining of feeling stuffiness and something in the ear. He has complaints of pain in the ear canal and decreased hearing capability. How do you respond to this call?

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10. A mother calls advising that her 16-year-old son has been out in the extreme cold. She has noticed that the tissue on his face is firm and the skin has a waxy appearance. The skin is very cold to the touch. How do you respond to this call?

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11. patient calls advising that she is experiencing numbness of hands and fingers with pain in these areas at night. Swelling of the wrist or hand and “fluttering” of the fingers are additional symptoms. How do you handle this call?

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12. An older patient calls to tell you that she has noticed bruising on her daughter in various stages of healing and on areas of the body that are concealed by clothing. Her daughter says that she will agree to come to the office. How do you respond?

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Guidelines for Patient-Screening Exercises(REFERENCES)???

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Typically, the medical assistant has the responsibility of screening telephone calls from patients requesting an appointment or reporting treatment progress or lack of progress. The medical assistant is often the initial contact for the patient or patient’s family, and critical thinking and a prompt response are required. Many offices have established guidelines regarding the extent of assessment that can be made over the telephone in compliance with state practice acts. It is essential that office staff be aware of and follow office guidelines.

Additionally, the medical assistant who is answering the phone may have a list of questions that he or she is expected to ask along with suggestions for appropriate responses regarding appointments or acceptable referrals. Important guidelines for life-threatening situations are listed in the textbook and in this workbook.
It is recommended that you review the information in the text regarding patient screening.

The guidelines listed are not intended for diagnosing a caller’s medical condition or for providing curative advice. These exercises offer general clues to enable you to recognize the urgency for an appointment, to identify individuals reporting an emergency, and to discern the kind of calls that require referral to the physician for response. These exercises are not intended to focus on the skill of medical triage, which state practice acts generally reserve for certain licensed professionals.

When a patient calls, careful listening is essential because the caller often relays information that will help the medical assistant to decide the appropriate action required. Ideally, the outcome of telephone communication between caller and screener will benefit the patient and avoid potential medical and legal problems.

Sensitivity to human suffering, strict confidentiality, and a keen awareness of the priority of meeting the needs of patients are necessary skills of the telephone screener and cannot be overstated. The medical assistant must always keep in mind the following important facts listed below.

* Only physicians and nurse practitioners may diagnose disease and prescribe medications.
* Established office protocol must always be followed during the screening process.
* All calls and referrals must be documented according to office policy.

The following list of serious and life-threatening conditions require immediate assessment and intervention:
* Sudden onset of unexplained shortness of breath
* Crushing pain across the center of the chest

Difficulty breathing occurring suddenly and rapidly worsening, often in the middle of the night

* Vomiting bright red or very dark “coffee-grounds”-appearing blood
* Sudden onset of weakness and unsteadiness or severe dizziness
* Sudden loss of consciousness or paralysis
* Flashes of light in field of vision
* Sudden and progressively worsening abdominal, flank, or pelvic pain
Sudden onset of blurred vision accompanied by severe throbbing in the eye

Children and other individuals with a history of asthma and sudden onset of difficulty breathing
Additional symptoms requiring prompt assessment include but are not limited to

* Sudden or recent onset of unexplained bleeding including blood in urine, stool, or emesis
* Coughing or spitting up blood
* Unusual and unexplained or heavy vaginal bleeding
* Elevated body temperature of sudden onset or for a prolonged period
* Continued abdominal, back, or pelvic pain
* Sudden onset of headache-type pain
* Children with elevated temperatures or continued vomiting
* Infants with sudden onset of projectile vomiting
It is essential to document all calls according to office policy and to notify the physician in an emergency situation.

Biology Science Physiology NURSING NUR 2063
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