Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 42 Assisting in other

Learning objectives of this chapter include: Describe the medical specialties of allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, and orthopedics; identify common diseases and disorders related to cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, and orthopedics;...

Assisting in Other Medical Specialties

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

42.1 Describe the medical specialties of allergy,

cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, and

orthopedics.

42.2 Identify common diseases and disorders

related to cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology,

oncology, and orthopedics.

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

42.3 Relate the role of the medical assistant in

examinations and procedures performed in the medical specialties of allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology,

gastroenterology, neurology, oncology, and

orthopedics.

Introduction

• The medical assistant working for a

specialist will

– Assist with the examinations

– Assist with diagnostic testing and processing

specimens – Address common concerns and questions

– Perform basic administrative and clinical skills

Working in Other Medical Specialties

• Allergy

– Allergist

– Allergies ~ inappropriate immune responses

– Allergic reaction ~ inflammation and tissue

damage

• Local

• Systemic

• Anaphylaxis

• Cardiologist – heart disease and disorders

• Be familiar with

– The structure of the cardiovascular system

– Typical exams and measurements

– Common heart diseases and treatments

– Diagnostic tests

• Dermatologists – skin diseases and

disorders

• Medical assistant must

– Understand elements of dermatologic exams

and procedures – Be familiar with skin disorders and treatments

– Understand terminology

• Endocrinologists – diseases and disorders related to glands and hormones

• Medical assistant

– Assists with examinations

– Collects specimens for analysis

• Gastroenterologists – disorders of the GI

tract, liver and pancreas

• Neurologists – diseases and disorders of

the central nervous system

• Medical assistant

– Assists with examination – Perform diagnostic testing – Educates patients

– Patient education – Family education and support

• Orthopedist – disorders, injuries, and

diseases of the muscular and skeletal

Apply Your Knowledge

Match the following

Malignant tumors Liver & pancreas disorders Immune system responses

ANSWER:

Diseases and Disorders Of Medical

• Hypertension

• Myocardial infarction

Diseases and Disorders Of Medical

Specialties (cont.)

• Cardiology

– Patient education ~ prevention of heart

disease, stroke, or heart attack

– Diseases include

• Arterial and vascular disorders

• Coronary artery disease

• Dysrhythmias

• Heart failure

• Inflammation of heart tissue

• Valvular diseases

Dermatologic Conditions and Disorders

• Skin disorders include

Endocrine Diseases and Disorders

• Diabetes

– Causes

• Pancreas ~ secretes less insulin

• Body ~ resistant to insulin

– Hyperglycemia

– Goal of treatment ~ normalize blood sugar

levels

Endocrine Diseases and Disorders (cont.)

Gastrointestinal Disease and Disorders

• Document GI symptoms accurately

• Common diseases and disorders

Neurologic Diseases and Disorders

• Common diseases

– Alzheimer’s

disease – Bells palsy

– Encephalitis

– Epilepsy – Migraines – Parkinson’s disease

Neurologic Diseases and Disorders

Orthopedic Diseases and Disorders

• Common diseases and disorders

– Arthritis

– Carpal tunnel syndrome

– Dislocations, sprains, and fractures

– Osteoporosis

• Low back pain

– Common disorder

– Treatment ~ heat, analgesics, muscle

relaxants, exercise, braces, traction, surgery

Apply Your Knowledge

Match disorder with specialty

bursitis Paget's disease psoriasis

Bravo!

ANSWER:

Exam and Procedures in Medical

Specialties

• Allergy exams and testing – medical

history and diagnostic testing

• Medical assistant

– Assist with or perform tests

– Patient education

Allergy Exams and Testing (cont.)

• Scratch test

– Used to test for specific

allergies – May cause discomfort

and itching

• Intradermal test - more sensitive than the

scratch test

Allergy Exams and Testing (cont.)

of the heart

Cardiology Exams (cont.)

• Stress test

– Measures response to

a constant or increasing workload

– Stress thallium ECG – Chemical stress test

• Holter monitor – records ECG over a

period of time

Radiography and Imaging Techniques

• Chest x-ray

• Radionuclide studies

– Fluoroscopy – Venogram – Angiography

Radiography and Imaging Techniques (cont.)

• Ultrasound – reflected sound waves

• Echocardiography

– High-frequency sound waves

– Tests structures and function of heart

• Heart MRI – strong

magnets and radio

waves

Radiography and Imaging Techniques (cont.)

• Cardiac catheterization

– Obtain blood samples

– Measure pressure in the heart’s chambers

– View the heart’s motion

• Coronary artery bypass graft

• Whole-body skin examination – top layer

of the entire surface of the skin

• Wood’s light examination – skin is

inspected under ultraviolet lamp in a

darkened room

Dermatology Exams

Endocrine Exams and Tests

• Assessment

– Skin condition

– Weight and cardiac functioning

– Physical exam ~ palpation of glands

• Diagnostic urine and blood tests

• Ultrasound, X-ray, and iodine scan

Gastroenterology Exams (cont.)

Gastroenterology Exams (cont.)

• Colonoscopy – examination of the large

intestine

• Proctoscopy – examination of the lower

rectum and anal canal

• Sigmoidoscopy – examination of the

sigmoid area of the large intestine

Diagnostic and Laboratory Testing (cont.)

• Gallbladder function test

• Differentiate between bile duct obstruction and gallstones

Diagnostic and Laboratory Testing

Neurologic Exams and Diagnostic Testing

• The neurologist evaluates

– Cognitive function

– Cranial nerves

– Motor system – Reflexes

– Sensory system

Neurologic Exams and Diagnostic

Neurologic Exams and Diagnostic

Testing (cont.)

• Imaging procedures (cont.)

– Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

– Positron emission tomography (PET scan)

– Myelography

– Skull X-rays

Neurologic Exams and Diagnostic

Oncology Exams and Diagnostic Testing

• Biopsy

– Incisional or open

– Needle

• Medical Assistant

– Standard Precautions, sterile technique

– Specimen preparation and labeling

– Clean and bandage site

Oncology Exams and Diagnostic

Testing (cont.)

• X-rays

• CT scans and MRI

• Blood tests to detect

tumor markers

• Ultrasonography

Cancer Treatment

• A combination of treatments is used

• Surgery

– Removal of all or part of the tumor

– Most effective if tumor contained or localized

• Radiation therapy

– Kills or stop the growth of tumor cells

– Damages cells the undergo rapid division

Cancer Treatment

• Chemotherapy

– Anticancer drugs administered to kill

malignant cells – Used alone or in combination

– Highly toxic ~ use PPE

Orthopedic Exam and Procedures

Orthopedic Exam and Procedures (cont.)

• Bone and muscle

– Diskography – Arthrography – Bone scans

Orthopedic Exam and Procedures (cont.)

• Arthroscopy

– View of the inside

of a joint – Arthroscope

• Joint replacement surgery

Apply Your Knowledge

An ultraviolet lamp is used in a Wood’s light examination.

A colonoscopy examines only the sigmoid portion of the colon.

In Summary

42.1 The medical specialties discussed in this

chapter include: allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology,

42.2 Many common diseases and disorders are

identified in the specialty practices You should have an understanding of the

implications of these diseases on the patient and

the necessary treatments.

In Summary (cont.)

42.3 Exams and diagnostic tests performed in

allergy, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology,

oncology, and orthopedics specialties are

numerous

During most of these exams and tests, your role may include patient safety and comfort, educating the patient about the necessary preparation and the procedure, and assisting the physician

End of Chapter 42

Diagnosis is not the

end, but the

beginning of

practice

~Martin H Fischer