What items surfaces should be disinfected following a patient examination Select all that apply?

Did you know that employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 23 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics? There is a great demand for medical assistants. Part of this exciting career involves preparing patients for physical examinations and health assessments in exam rooms.

Índice Show

Room Preparation
Patient Preparation
Assisting with the Physical Examination
Physical Examination Format
After the Physical Examination
Protect Staff
Remove Soiled Linens
Clean Up Fluids
Disinfect Medical Equipment
Wipe Down Surfaces
Check Hand Sanitizer Dispensers
Sweep and Mop Floor

Want to help patients stay in good health? Ready to become a medical assistant? The medical assistant will assist the physician with a patient’s physical examination and health assessment by preparing the room, preparing the patient, assisting with the physical examination, knowing the physical examination format, and assisting the patient after the physical examination is complete.

Room Preparation

The medical assistant is responsible for preparing the examination room, making sure the equipment and instruments are disinfected and sanitized, and the supplies are adequately stocked. The examination room should be clean, well lit, ventilated and at a comfortable temperature for the patient. After every physical examination and health assessment the medical assisting should disinfect the room and paper on the surfaces should be removed and replaced. The medical assistant must also make sure that the physical examination instruments are working properly and charged for the next patient examination.

Patient Preparation

Once the room is ready, the medical assistant will escort the patient to the examination room. It is the medical assistants goal to create a low-stress and comfortable atmosphere for patients. The medical assistant will record the patient’s history and check vital signs.

The medical assistant will then ask the patient to disrobe for the physical examination and health assessment and put on the examination gown. Once the patient is fully transitioned to the examination gown, the medical assistant will have the patient sit on the examination table and drape their legs for privacy. The medical assistant will then place the patient’s chart outside the examination room door and notify the physician that the patient is ready for the physical examination and health assessment.

Assisting with the Physical Examination

The medical assistant may assist the physician while performing the physical examination. The medical assistant will be responsible for handing the proper instruments and supplies to the physician. The medical assistant may also help the patient move into the appropriate position while adjusting the drape to expose the right part of the body for the physician to examine the patient.

Physical Examination Format

The physical examination and health assessment begins with the patient on the examination table with a drape sheet over the lap and covering the legs. The physician will examine the patient in an orderly and methodical sequence. First, viewing the patients head and neck. Then, examining the eyes and ears, nose and sinuses, mouth and throat, chest, breasts and abdomen, genitalia and rectum, and legs. Finally checking the patient’s reflexes.

Head and Neck – The patient’s skull, scalp, hair and face are inspected for size, shape and symmetry. The physician will look for any nodules, masses or local trauma. The trachea, lymph nodes and thyroid gland are examined for size and symmetry. Finally, the physician examines the carotid arteries to check for abnormal sounds caused by a blockage.

Eyes and Ears – The physician will inspect the fibrous tissue covering the eye for normal coloring. Then the pupils are inspected with a penlight to view their size and see if they react normally to light. The patient will follow the physician’s finger to examine proper eye movement. The ears are inspected for size, symmetry, lesions and nodules. The physician uses an otoscope to examine the interior of the ear for discoloration and fluids caused by infection. Auditory acuity is tested with the tuning fork or the audioscope.

Nose and Sinuses – the external nose is examined for abnormalities and the interior of the nose is examined using a nasal speculum and penlight. Each nostril is inspected for discharge, lesions or other signs of infection.

Mouth and Throat – the physician inspects the mucous membranes, gums, teeth, tongue, tonsils, and throat. The physician looks for any abnormalities including color, ulcerations and nodules.

Chest, Breasts & Abdomen – the physician looks for any obvious masses or swelling. With the stethoscope, the physician listens for any abnormal sounds in the lungs, heart and apical pulse while the patient takes deep breaths. The breasts of male and female patients will be examined for any abnormalities or masses. Then, the physician examines the abdomen for contour, symmetry and movement from the aorta. The physician will also use the stethoscope to listen to the bowel sounds. Finally, the physician will examine the abdomen organs for enlargement, masses, pain or tenderness.

Genitalia and Rectum – the male genitalia are inspected for lesions, swelling, masses and hair distribution. The scrotum is checked for testicular size, contour and consistency. The anus is inspected for lesions and hemorrhoids. The female genitalia and rectum are inspected for lesions, edema, cysts, discharge and hair distribution.

Legs – the legs are inspected for any abnormalities and the pulse is measured for extremity blood pressure. The legs are also inspected for varicose veins.

Reflexes – the physician uses the percussion hammer to test the patient’s reflexes by striking the biceps, triceps, patellar, Achilles and plantar tendons.

After the Physical Examination

The medical assistant will perform any follow-up treatments and procedures as ordered by the physician (i.e. flu shot administration). They will ask the patient to redress and wait for further instructions. The medical assistant will escort the patient to the front desk where they can schedule any follow-up appointments.

The medical assistant will want to dispose of any disposable supplies and equipment used during the physical examination and health assessment. from the exam room Then, the medical assistant will cover the examination table with clean paper and prepare the room for the next patient.

Ready to learn more about assisting the physician with a physical examination, exam room preparation and health assessment? Interested in becoming a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training. The core curriculum focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Whether in a doctor’s office or in a hospital, medical exam rooms get a lot of use and are a hotbed for germs and bacteria. The patient could be a child with a sprained wrist, or an elderly person with complications from the flu. No matter who the patient is, they don’t want to leave the medical facility with bigger problems than when they arrived, thanks to germs and bacteria brought in other patients.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are illnesses people get after being treated at a medical facility. HAIs are blamed for tens of thousands of deaths and cost the American health care system billions of dollars each year. Infection prevention must be a priority to keep patients and staff safe and to protect your business. Designate a staff member to clean rooms after each patient. They should follow a thorough exam room cleaning checklist. Download your free form here.

Protect Staff

First, facility managers should stock gloves, gowns, face, and eye protection to protect staff who are responsible for cleaning up after each patient. Encourage staff members to take appropriate precautions before entering an exam room. Doctors and nurses should alert staff if a patient is bleeding, vomiting, coughing uncontrollably, or has any other condition that may require special cleaning instructions.

Remove Soiled Linens

A gown, sheet, or blanket used by a sick person can be harboring anything from the flu virus to MRSA and can be highly contagious. Carefully roll patient linens to avoid releasing microorganisms into the air or contaminating other surfaces in the room. Place linens directly into a hamper or bag and transfer to laundry services. Wash hands or change gloves after handling soiled linens.

Clean Up Fluids

Vomit, blood, urine, and other bodily fluids should be wiped up immediately, and the area thoroughly cleaned with EPA-registered disinfecting products. Spot clean walls that may have been contaminated. Fluids left behind may cause stains and offensive odors over time.

Disinfect Medical Equipment

Patients will spend most of their appointment sitting or lying on the exam table. Remove and discard any paper liner that’s covering the patient exam table. Wipe the entire surface with a disinfecting wipe and allow to dry. Cover table with a new disposable liner.

Use sanitizing wipes to clean any equipment that may have been used on the patient, including blood pressure cuffs, otoscope, or forehead thermometer.

Wipe Down Surfaces

Disinfect counters, sink, chairs, door handles, light switches, computer keyboards, and any other surfaces in the room. Common illnesses, such as colds or the flu, can be spread through touching or coughing. Viruses and germs may remain infectious for several hours. Properly cleaning high-touch surfaces will help stop the spread of infectious illnesses.

Check Hand Sanitizer Dispensers

If the patient exam room is equipped with hand sanitizer, make sure the container has enough product and is in good working order. Make a note on the exam room cleaning checklist if refills need to be ordered or if the unit is broken and should be replaced.

Sweep and Mop Floor

Exam room floors can also become incubators for germs and bacteria. Doctors, nurses, and patients can bring in germs on the bottoms of their shoes. A person who is coughing and sick with the flu also can spread the virus around the exam room. Coughing and sneezing can easily contaminate multiple surfaces, including the floor. Sweep and mop floor with disinfecting cleaner. Allow to dry.

After cleaning the room, wash hands thoroughly to prevent cross-contamination between the exam room and other parts of the medical facility. All office staff should be educated in basic procedures for preventing the spread of germs and bacteria.

Busy doctors’ offices and other medical facilities want to keep their patients and staff safe by following thorough cleaning procedures on the exam room cleaning checklist after each patient. A professional cleaning service, such as Enviro-Master, has hospital-grade products that will kill the germs lurking in your medical facility, and keep killing them for a week! The electrostatic spraying service is a weekly service that kills dangerous micro-organisms including norovirus, influenza, MRSA, streptococcus and more.

After all, people come to your office to get better, not to get sicker. And if a staff member gets sick, it can affect office productivity. Contact us for more information about Enviro-Master’s health and hygiene services.