Transcript The History

PARAMEDIC CARE:
PRINCIPLES &
PRACTICE
Patient
Assessment
The History
The ability to elicit a good
history lays the foundation
for good patient care.
Topics
 History Taking Techniques
 Active Listening
 The Comprehensive Health
History
Patient Rapport
Setting the Stage
 If a patient’s chart is available,
review it before interviewing the
patient.
 Use this information to gain
clues about the patient.
The First Impression
 Present yourself as a caring,
competent, and confident
health care professional.
When you introduce yourself to the patient,
shaking hands or offering a comforting touch
will help build trust.
Asking Questions
 Use a combination of openended and close-ended
questions.
Language and Communication
 Use appropriate language.
 Use an appropriate level of
questioning, but do not appear
condescending.
 When encountering communication
barriers, try to enlist someone to
help.
 Actively listen.
Active Listening
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Facilitation
Reflection
Clarification
Empathy
Confrontation
Interpretation
Asking about feelings
Sensitive Topics
 A paramedic must learn to
become comfortable dealing
with sensitive topics.
 It is important to earn a
patient’s trust.
The Comprehensive
Patient History
Elements of the
Patient History
Preliminary Data
 Date and time
 Age
 Sex
 Race
 Birthplace
 Occupation
The Chief Complaint
 This is the pain, discomfort,
dysfunction that caused the
patient to request help.
The Present Illness
OPQRST-ASPN
 Onset of the
problem
 Provocative/
Palliative factors
 Quality
 Region/Radiation
 Severity
 Time
 Associated
Symptoms
 Pertinent
Negatives
Past History
 General state of health
 Childhood diseases
 Adult diseases
 Psychiatric illnesses
 Accidents or injuries
 Surgeries or hospitalizations
Current Health Status
(1 of 3)
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Current medications
Allergies
Tobacco
Alcohol, drugs, and
related substances
 Diet
 Screening tests
 Immunizations
Current Health Status
(2 of 3)
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Sleep patterns
Exercise and leisure activities
Environmental hazards
Use of safety measures
Family history
Home situation and
significant others
 Daily life
Current Health Status
(3 of 3)
 Important exercises
 Religious beliefs
 The patient’s outlook
You should take your patient’s
medications with you to the hospital,
when practical.
Review of Systems
 A system-by-system series of
questions designed to identify
problems your patient has not
already identified.
Special Challenges (1 of 2)
 Silence
 Overly talkative
patients
 Multiple
symptoms
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Sexually
attractive or
seductive
patients
 Confusing
behaviors or
symptoms
Special Challenges (2 of 2)
 Patients
needing
reassurance
 Anger and
hostility
 Intoxication
 Crying
 Limited
intelligence
 Language
Barriers
 Hearing
problems
 Blindness
 Talking with
families or
friends
If the patient cannot provide useful
information, gather it from family
or bystanders.
Summary
 History taking techniques
 Active listening
 The comprehensive health
history