Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 9 Examination and treatment areas

In this chapter you will learn about the common layouts of examination rooms; keeping the rooms clean and stocked with instruments, disposable, and consumable supplies; maintaining the comfort of the room; and making the room safe for patients and coworkers. You will also be introduced to the requirements for accessibility established by the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Examination and Treatment Areas

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

9.1 Describe the layout and features of a typical

examination room

9.2 Differentiate between sanitization and

disinfection

9.3 List steps to prevent the spread of infection in

the exam and treatment rooms

Learning Outcomes (cont.)

9.4 Describe the importance of temperature,

lighting, and ventilation in the exam room

9.5 Identify instruments and supplies used in a

general physical exam and tell how to arrange

and prepare them

The Exam Room

• Number and size of rooms

– Two per physician

– Accommodate the physician, patient, and one

assistant– Supplies and equipment must be in reach

• Items commonly found in exam rooms

 One or more chairs

 Wall brackets

 High-intensity lamp

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: You need to consider efficiency, patient

comfort, and physician convenience when arranging

an examination room.

When arranging an examination room, what three

things should you consider?

Right!

Sanitization and Disinfection

– Sound waves generated through a cleaning

solution to loosen contaminants

• Adequate for some instruments

• For others, it is the second step prior to

sterilization

• Sterilization is necessary for visible

contamination with blood

Disinfection (cont.)

• Using disinfectants

– Cleaning products for inanimate materials

– Reduce or eliminate infectious organisms

– Manufacturer’s guidelines

– Effectiveness

Disinfection (cont.)

• Choose the correct disinfectant

• Handling disinfected supplies

– Prevent contamination with other surfaces

– Use sterile transfer forceps

– Wear gloves

– Store in clean,

moisture-free environment

Apply Your Knowledge

What is sanitation and for what items is sanitation

adequate for cleaning?

ANSWER: Sanitation is scrubbing with a

brush and detergent to remove blood,

mucus, and other contaminants or media

where pathogens can grow It is adequate

for cleaning items that touch only healthy,

intact skin.

• Clean and well organized

• Safeguards

– Making hand hygiene a priority;

– Keeping the examining table clean; and

– Disinfecting all work surfaces

Infection Control (cont.)

• Disinfect surfaces

– Visibly contaminated with tissue, blood or

other body fluids – At end of shift

– Per office schedule

Infection Control (cont.)

• Storage

– Store biohazardous specimens properly

– Work practice controls

– Store testing kits properly

Putting the Room in Order

• Straighten and put items away

• Contributes to physical safety

• Housekeeping

Apply Your Knowledge

Other than at the end of your shift, when should

you disinfect the surfaces in the examination

rooms?

ANSWER: Whenever there is visible

contamination with blood, body fluid, or body

tissue.

• Maintain examination room temperature at

about 72°F

• Eliminate drafts

• Accurate diagnoses

• Perform medical procedures

• Read orders and instructions

• Prevent accidents

• Examination area should smell clean

and fresh

• Eliminate source of odors

• If opening windows, monitor room

temperature

• Room deodorizer or spray

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: Good lighting is needed for

making accurate diagnoses, performing

medical procedures, reading orders and

instructions, and preventing accidents.

Why is it important to have good lighting in the

examination room?

Medical Instruments and Supplies

• Maintain instruments and supplies

– Order and stock all needed supplies

– Sanitize, disinfect, and/or sterilize instruments

as needed– Instruments and supplies should be placed

within easy reach for the physician

Instrument Purpose

examinationExam light Provides additional lighting

Laryngeal mirror Reflects inside of mouth and

throatNasal speculum Used to enlarge the opening of

the noseOphthalmoscope Used to examine the inner eye

surfacesExam

pressure Exam (cont.)

Instrument Purpose

Stethoscope Used to listen to body sounds

Tape measure Used to measure size or

development of an area

temperatureTuning fork Used to test hearing

Vaginal

speculum Used to enlarge the vagina for specimens from cervix and vagina

Exam (cont.)

disinfecting, and sterilizing

Cervical scraper

Cotton balls Cotton-tipped applicators

Curettes Needles and Syringes

Gauze, dressings, and bandages

• Restocking supplies

tuning fork anoscope

Apply Your Knowledge

A medical assistant is preparing the treatment room for a local ENT specialist Which of the following instruments might be

used in this office to assess patient ear, nose, and throat

In Summary

9.1 A typical examination room is about 8 by 12 feet, large

enough to accommodate the physician, the patient, and

one assistant Instruments and equipment in the room

should be easily accessible

9.2 Sanitization is the scrubbing of instruments and

equipment with special brushes and detergent to

remove blood, mucus, and other contaminants or

media where pathogens can grow Disinfection uses

special cleaning products applied to instruments and

equipment to reduce or eliminate infectious organisms.

In Summary (cont.)

9.3 Steps involved in preventing the spread of infection in

the examination room include covering the examination

table with a paper cover and changing the cover

between each patient It is also important to disinfect all

surfaces that come in contact with blood or body fluids

after each patient, and at the beginning and end of the

day.

9.4 It is important that patients feel comfortable in the

examination room A comfortably warm, well lit, and

properly ventilated room will help the patient feel

comfortable during his examination.

In Summary (cont.)

9.5 A variety of instruments and supplies are used in a

general physical examination To ensure the

examination room always has the necessary

instruments and supplies, the medical assistant should

order and stock all supplies needed for examinations

and treatment procedures; keep the instruments

sanitized, disinfected, or sterilized and in working order; and place all instruments and supplies where the

physician can easily reach them.

End of Chapter 9