Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the reason for building more healthcare institutions in Singapore?
What is the reason for building more healthcare institutions in Singapore?
To handle the increasing population and demand for healthcare services.
Which sectors provide healthcare services in Singapore? (Select all that apply)
Which sectors provide healthcare services in Singapore? (Select all that apply)
What types of healthcare institutions exist in Singapore? (Select all that apply)
What types of healthcare institutions exist in Singapore? (Select all that apply)
What is one way hospitals are structured to provide services?
What is one way hospitals are structured to provide services?
Signup and view all the answers
The typical process flow for patients seeking treatment includes registration, consultation, ______, and discharge.
The typical process flow for patients seeking treatment includes registration, consultation, ______, and discharge.
Signup and view all the answers
How can technology improve healthcare service delivery?
How can technology improve healthcare service delivery?
Signup and view all the answers
The private sector in Singapore provides 80% of primary care services.
The private sector in Singapore provides 80% of primary care services.
Signup and view all the answers
What are some risks in implementing healthcare technologies? (Select all that apply)
What are some risks in implementing healthcare technologies? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of community care in the healthcare system?
What is the purpose of community care in the healthcare system?
Signup and view all the answers
Name two tools required to facilitate technology use in healthcare.
Name two tools required to facilitate technology use in healthcare.
Signup and view all the answers
What does quality assurance in hospitals involve?
What does quality assurance in hospitals involve?
Signup and view all the answers
List one medical protection scheme available in Singapore.
List one medical protection scheme available in Singapore.
Signup and view all the answers
Which systems are included in the systemic inquiry checklist?
Which systems are included in the systemic inquiry checklist?
Signup and view all the answers
It is important to ask open-ended questions when taking a patient's medical history.
It is important to ask open-ended questions when taking a patient's medical history.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the importance of communication in the healthcare setting?
What is the importance of communication in the healthcare setting?
Signup and view all the answers
Match the types of pain with their descriptions:
Match the types of pain with their descriptions:
Signup and view all the answers
Pain is classified into __________ and __________ pain.
Pain is classified into __________ and __________ pain.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of somatic pain?
What are the characteristics of somatic pain?
Signup and view all the answers
Define visceral pain.
Define visceral pain.
Signup and view all the answers
What type of pain originates from within the nervous system itself?
What type of pain originates from within the nervous system itself?
Signup and view all the answers
Pain scales help patients describe their perception of __________.
Pain scales help patients describe their perception of __________.
Signup and view all the answers
What is percussion?
What is percussion?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a dull sound in percussion indicate?
What does a dull sound in percussion indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
A hollow sound on percussion indicates a fluid-filled area.
A hollow sound on percussion indicates a fluid-filled area.
Signup and view all the answers
List the four basic vital signs.
List the four basic vital signs.
Signup and view all the answers
What type of questions does the Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale use?
What type of questions does the Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale use?
Signup and view all the answers
What is described as a self-reported pain scale that shows a series of faces?
What is described as a self-reported pain scale that shows a series of faces?
Signup and view all the answers
What are common methods of anesthesia?
What are common methods of anesthesia?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a nasogastric tube?
What is the purpose of a nasogastric tube?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key advantage of using verbal intensity pain scales?
What is a key advantage of using verbal intensity pain scales?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done to care for a nasogastric tube post-insertion?
What should be done to care for a nasogastric tube post-insertion?
Signup and view all the answers
The Visual Analog Scale can be administered electronically.
The Visual Analog Scale can be administered electronically.
Signup and view all the answers
What is an urinary catheter?
What is an urinary catheter?
Signup and view all the answers
What are some common infectious diseases mentioned?
What are some common infectious diseases mentioned?
Signup and view all the answers
The sound of added noises like crepitations in pneumonia can be detected during __________.
The sound of added noises like crepitations in pneumonia can be detected during __________.
Signup and view all the answers
Infectious diseases can be transmitted via _____ or contaminated food.
Infectious diseases can be transmitted via _____ or contaminated food.
Signup and view all the answers
What is meant by 'personal protective equipment'?
What is meant by 'personal protective equipment'?
Signup and view all the answers
How do you assess a patient’s vital signs?
How do you assess a patient’s vital signs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are methods to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare? (Select all that apply)
Which of the following are methods to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
What is palpation?
What is palpation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct sequence of putting on PPE?
What is the correct sequence of putting on PPE?
Signup and view all the answers
The Numerical Rating Scale is a type of self-reported pain scale.
The Numerical Rating Scale is a type of self-reported pain scale.
Signup and view all the answers
What was David suspected of having?
What was David suspected of having?
Signup and view all the answers
What approach is important when taking David's history?
What approach is important when taking David's history?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the alternative terms for illness?
What are the alternative terms for illness?
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following types of illnesses with their definitions:
Match the following types of illnesses with their definitions:
Signup and view all the answers
Chronic illnesses generally require less medical care compared to acute illnesses.
Chronic illnesses generally require less medical care compared to acute illnesses.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the stages of illness according to the Kubler-Ross model?
What are the stages of illness according to the Kubler-Ross model?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a possible psychological effect of stroke?
Which of the following is a possible psychological effect of stroke?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the obligations of the sick person in the sick role mentality?
What are the obligations of the sick person in the sick role mentality?
Signup and view all the answers
The main types of communication in healthcare are ______, non verbal communication, and written communication.
The main types of communication in healthcare are ______, non verbal communication, and written communication.
Signup and view all the answers
What is documented in the case notes?
What is documented in the case notes?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is good communication crucial in healthcare?
Why is good communication crucial in healthcare?
Signup and view all the answers
What should the drug history section in a patient's case notes include?
What should the drug history section in a patient's case notes include?
Signup and view all the answers
The sick person is responsible for their condition according to the Parson's sick role mentality.
The sick person is responsible for their condition according to the Parson's sick role mentality.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the post care instructions after a urinary catheter insertion?
What are the post care instructions after a urinary catheter insertion?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a colostomy bag?
What is a colostomy bag?
Signup and view all the answers
Why was a colostomy bag fitted on Fred?
Why was a colostomy bag fitted on Fred?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the post care instructions after a colostomy bag insertion?
What are the post care instructions after a colostomy bag insertion?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be done to ensure proper care of the stoma?
What should be done to ensure proper care of the stoma?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the post care instructions after inserting a pacemaker?
What are the post care instructions after inserting a pacemaker?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a tracheostomy tube?
What is a tracheostomy tube?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the post care instructions after inserting a tracheostomy tube?
What are the post care instructions after inserting a tracheostomy tube?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an oxygen mask?
What is an oxygen mask?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following are post care instructions after inserting a pacemaker? (Select all that apply)
Which of the following are post care instructions after inserting a pacemaker? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
How to Define Illness
- Illness is the impairment of normal living functions affecting a person's vital processes.
- Commonly refers to a disease, disorder, medical condition or another alteration of state.
- Illness can hinder or modify the performance of essential bodily functions such as circulation and respiration.
Manifestations of Diseases
- Manifests by distinguishing signs and symptoms.
- Occurs as acute or chronic types.
- Caused by:
- Environmental factors (e.g., malnutrition, industrial hazards, climate)
- Specific infective agents (e.g., worms, bacteria, viruses)
- Inherent defects of the organism (e.g., genetic anomalies)
- Combinations of these factors
Acute vs. Chronic Illnesses
-
Acute illnesses are of sudden onset and short duration.
- Require short-term treatment.
- Examples: Acute Renal (Kidney) Failure, Acute Myocardial Infarct, Acute Hepatitis, Acute Upper Respiratory Disease, Acute Bronchitis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia
-
Chronic illnesses have long-lasting effects or recur over a long period of time.
- Require long-term treatment and holistic management.
- Examples: Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Chronic Cardiac Insufficiency, Diabetes, Chronic Hepatitis, Asthma, all types of cancer (malignant tumors)
Stages of Illness
-
Kubler-Ross 5 Stages of Grief applied to chronic illness:
- Denial: Avoidance, unrealistic expectations, emotional overload.
- Anger: Tantrums, mood swings, rebellion, random anger.
- Bargaining: Negotiation, charity, prayer, seeking a lesser sentence.
- Depression: Mood swings, withdrawal, crying, anxiety attacks, regret, fear, uncertainty.
- Acceptance: Calm, reflective, prepared, close to others, stable, bucket list.
- Identifying these stages can help patients cope from one stage to another.
Biopsychosocial Stages Encountered
- Biological: Physical effects of the chronic illness.
- Psychological: Changes in emotions and thoughts due to the illness.
- Social: Adaptations to live with the condition and receive medical care.
Biopsychosocial Stages: Examples
-
Kidney failure: Fatigue, wheelchair-bound, dialysis, medications.
- Possible psychological effects: Depression, feeling useless, hopelessness, guilt, loss of ability to work, dependence on caregivers, costs.
-
Stroke: Loss of functions, cognitive changes.
- Possible psychological effects: Depression, hopelessness, anger at self, loss of function, dependence on others.
-
Cancer: Fatigue, weight loss, pain.
- Possible psychological effects: Depression, sense of doom, denial, guilt, fear of death, pain, costs.
-
Heart disease: Fatigue, decrease in function, pain.
- Possible psychological effects: Denial, depression, fear, guilt.
-
Diabetes: Fatigue, weight loss, complications.
- Possible psychological effects: Depression, denial, guilt, stereotyping, needles, costs, lifestyle change.
Holistic Care and Support
- Healthcare professionals play different roles in holistic care.
- Case Managers: BioPsycho Support groups and programs
- Physiotherapists: BioPsycho
- Occupational Therapists: BioPsycho
- Patient Counselors: Social
- Psychologists: Psychosocial
- Social workers: Social
- Medical staff: Medical
Parson’s Sick Role Mentality
- Acceptance of the sick role: Individually is not only physically sick but adheres to social expectations of being sick.
-
Rights of the sick person:
- Exempt from normal social roles
- Not responsible for their condition
-
Obligations of the sick person:
- Try to get well
- Seek competent help
- Cooperate with medical professionals
Types of Communication
- Verbal communication: Speaking, tone of voice, specific sounds.
- Nonverbal communication: Body language, posture, eye contact, touch, actions, often subconscious.
- Written communication: Writing, art, drawings, SMS, WhatsApp, Email
Importance of Communication in Healthcare
-
Between healthcare professionals and patients:
- History taking and physical examination involve verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Explaining conditions to patients requires tact and understanding.
- Illness can impair communication ability.
- Confidentiality and patient integrity must be maintained.
-
Amongst healthcare professionals:
- Handover of patients during shift changes.
- Discussions between healthcare colleagues about patients' conditions and medical reports.
- Written case notes that chart the health progress of the patient.
Benefits of Good Communication in Healthcare
- Puts patients at ease.
- Allows for more openness from the patient.
- Determines patient anxiety level.
- Minimizes misunderstandings.
- Ensures no miscommunication of treatment plans, diagnoses, or drug prescriptions.
- Prevents malpractice suits.
Importance of the Case Note
- Legal document: Contains confidential patient health information.
- Historical record: Tracks past and current medical records.
- Documentation: Notes drug allergies, previous treatments, surgeries.
- Health progress card: Refers for healthcare professionals.
Sections of a Patient’s Medical Case Notes
-
Systematic Enquiry:
- History of presenting complaint: Questions about the patient's current complaint.
- Social history: Occupation, marital status, habits (smoking, alcohol, exercise, sexual practice).
- Past medical history: Medical conditions (acute or chronic diseases, surgeries, hospital admissions).
- Family history of diseases: Genetic factors.
- Drug history: Medications, drug allergies.
-
Systemic Enquiry: Checklist of questions broken down by body systems:
- Integumentary system
- Locomotor system
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Gastrointestinal system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Genitourinary system
How to Systematically Record Case Notes
- Be aware of: Common medical terminology, correct history-taking techniques, communication skills required in healthcare.
- Consider: Multiple healthcare professionals may be present during history taking, ensuring patient consent is obtained.
-
Questioning technique:
- Open-ended/non-leading questions to let the patient tell their story.
- Avoid judgmental language and maintain confidentiality.
- Be sensitive when asking questions, especially to the opposite gender.
Documenting Patient Case Notes
-
Current approach: e-documentation (EPIC System).
- Electronically entered.
- Central source of information for patients' care from admission to discharge.
- Analytics for patient and disease management.
- Security controlled access.
- System prompts for alerts (e.g., drug allergies).
- Generates billing invoices.
Helping a Patient
- Approach with care and sensitivity.
- Communicate effectively: Obtain information respecting verbal and nonverbal cues.
- Be sympathetic and empathetic: Listen to the patient's plight.
- Document accurately: All aspects of the patient's condition in the case notes.
- Use proper terminology: Ensures all healthcare professionals understand and follow up accordingly.
Key Learning Objectives
- Define disease: and the types of disease.
- Define: signs, symptoms, and syndrome with examples.
- Explain: Psychological implications and social adjustments during chronic illness.
- List: Acute and chronic illnesses and their accompanying psychosocial impacts.
- Explain: The Kubler-Ross model for grief and its application to helping patients with chronic illness.
- Explain: The BioPsychoSocial Model in chronic illnesses.
- Apply: The principles of Parson's "sick role."
- Evaluate: Condition-specific psychosocial implications and discuss varied approaches to care (e.g., pediatric conditions, chronic vs. acute conditions, psychiatric conditions).
Communication in Healthcare
-
Communication can be verbal, nonverbal, and written.
-
Verbal communication involves spoken words.
-
Nonverbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
-
Written communication involves letters, emails, and reports.
-
Importance of good communication: Effective communication is essential for building trust with patients, providing accurate information, and coordinating care.
Medical/Case History Taking
- Function of medical/case history taking: Gathering information about a patient's health history, including past illnesses, medications, and family history to help diagnose and treat the patient.
Systemic Inquiry
-
Basic categories of information collected during systematic inquiry:
- Presenting complaint/chief complaint: The reason for the patient's visit.
- History of Present Illness (HPI): Detailed description of the patient's current symptoms.
- Past Medical History (PMH): Previous illnesses, surgeries, and injuries.
- Family History (FH): Health conditions in the patient's family.
- Social History (SH): Lifestyle, habits, and environment.
- Medication History (MH): Current and past medications.
- Allergies (ALL): Patient's allergies.
- Review of Systems (ROS): A systemic inquiry about each body system.
-
Components of systematic inquiry in patients' medical case notes:
- Subjective (S): Patient's own report of their symptoms.
- Objective (O): Healthcare provider's observations of the patient.
- Assessment (A): Healthcare provider's interpretation of the patient's condition.
- Plan (P): Course of action to address the patient's health condition. This could include medication, treatment, further testing, or referral to a specialist.
Closed vs. Open-Ended Questions
- Closed questions: Questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no" or a short, specific answer. They are useful for eliciting specific information and confirming details.
- Open-ended questions: Questions that invite a detailed explanation or opinion. Helpful for understanding the patient's perspective and gathering comprehensive information.
Pain and Pain Assessment
- Definition of pain: An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
Different Types of Pain
- Nociceptive pain: Arises from stimulation of specific pain receptors in response to stimuli like heat, cold, stretch, or touch.
- Non-nociceptive pain: Occurs due to actual nerve damage.
- Somatic pain: Originates from tissues such as skin, muscles, joints, bones, and ligaments.
- Visceral pain: Arises from internal organs within the main body cavities.
- Neuropathic and Sympathetic pain: Occurs due to problems within the nervous system itself.
Pain Scales
- Used to measure a patient's experience of pain.
- Common types:
- Verbal intensity scale: Descriptive, uses numbers assigned to pain levels.
- Visual analog scale: A line representing pain intensity.
- Numerical rating scale: A numerical scale ranging from 0 to 10 or higher.
- Wong-Baker ‘Faces’ Scale: Uses faces to represent pain levels.
- Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale: Uses open-ended questions to assess the impact of pain on the patient.
Infectious Diseases
- Diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
- Transmission routes:
- Person-to-person.
- Animal or insect bites.
- Contaminated food or water.
- Environmental exposures.
Preventing the Spread of Infection
- Chain of infection: The sequence of events that contribute to the transmission of an infectious disease.
- Breaking the chain of infection involves interrupting the transmission cycle at one or more points.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Includes barriers like gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection to protect healthcare professionals from infectious agents.
- Hand hygiene: Frequent and thorough washing of hands is essential to prevent the spread of infection.
Safety Practices for Healthcare Professionals
- Infection control: Strategies used to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
- Standard precautions: Guidelines for infection control, including hand hygiene, use of gloves, and PPE.
- COVID-19 patient precautions: Special precautions implemented when caring for patients with COVID-19.
Physical Examination
- Inspection: Visual examination of the patient.
- Palpation: Using touch to assess the patient's body.
- Percussion: Tapping on the body to assess underlying structures.
- Auscultation: Listening with a stethoscope to sounds produced by the body.
- Vital signs: Measurements like temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure used to assess the patient's health status.
Empathetic vs. Sympathetic Language
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person. It involves putting yourself in their shoes and acknowledging their emotions.
- Sympathy: Feeling sorry for someone else, but not necessarily understanding their feelings.
Challenges in Communicating Bad News
- Delivery of bad news: Sharing sensitive or difficult information with patients.
- Ethical Considerations: Honesty, clarity, and compassion are essential when communicating bad news.
Patient Confidentiality
- Healthcare privacy: The legal and ethical right of patients to have their health information kept confidential.
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): Federal law protecting the privacy of patient health information.
Communication Etiquette in Digital Communication
- Professional conduct: Maintaining appropriate communication behaviors when using digital devices for healthcare purposes.
- Respectful language: Avoiding slang, informal language, and unprofessional communication.
- Privacy and security: Protecting confidential information and ensuring secure communication.
Communication Skills in Healthcare
- Verbal communication: Using clear and concise language, active listening, and effective questioning.
- Non-verbal communication: Maintaining eye contact, using appropriate body language and facial expressions, and demonstrating empathy.
- Written communication: Using professional and accurate language in medical documentation.
Communication Barriers in Healthcare
- Language barriers: Difficulty understanding or communicating due to different languages.
- Cultural differences: Variations in communication styles and perspectives.
- Cognitive impairments: Difficulties with understanding or processing information.
- Hearing or vision impairments: Challenges with receiving information.
Overcoming Communication Barriers
- Using interpreters: Providing translation services for non-English speakers.
- Adjusting communication style: Adapting communication strategies to the patient's needs.
- Using visual aids: Employing images or diagrams to convey information.
- Patiently explaining: Taking time to explain information clearly.
Non-Verbal Cues
- Facial expressions: Can indicate pain, anxiety, or confusion.
- Body language: Can reflect discomfort, pain, or reluctance to move.
- Vocal tone and pitch: Variations can indicate changes in health status or distress.
- Eye contact: Lack of eye contact can suggest pain, disorientation, or fatigue.
Fred's Condition
- Fred had stage 2 colon cancer and was scheduled for a partial hemicolectomy.
- The surgery was to be performed under general anesthesia (GA).
Pre-Surgical Procedures
- Fred was to have the following inserted for the surgery:
- Nasogastric (NG) tube
- Urinary catheter
- Stoma bag
Post-Surgery Complications
- Fred developed complications during surgery with respiration due to GA.
- He developed a tension pneumothorax causing his oxygen saturation to fall.
- The anesthetist noted the complications.
Immediate Intervention Plan
- Rescue and reduce the pneumothorax: This refers to treating a collapsed lung, a condition where air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall.
- Monitor the O2 saturation: Keeping a close eye on the patient's oxygen levels in the blood.
- Provide immediate increased levels of oxygen: Delivering supplemental oxygen to improve respiratory function.
Devices
-
Nasogastric Tube (NG Tube):
- A tube inserted through the nose and into the stomach for feeding and aspirating gastric contents.
- Fred's NG tube assists in aspirating gastric secretions and providing liquid food post-operatively due to poor intestinal function after surgery.
-
Urinary Catheter:
- A tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to collect urine.
- Used for patients with urinary obstruction, retention, post-surgery, or critical illness to monitor urine output.
- Fred likely had a urinary catheter to monitor his urine input and output following surgery.
-
Colostomy Bag:
- A bag fitted onto the stoma, a passage created after hemicolectomy (partial colon removal) to allow for waste evacuation.
- Fred's colostomy was necessary due to colon cancer and its potential to affect other organs.
-
Pacemaker:
- An electronic device implanted to correct abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
- Pacemaker electrodes stimulate the heart's atria and ventricles to restore normal heart rhythm.
-
Tracheostomy Tube:
- A tube inserted into the trachea to help patients breathe when there is a blockage in their trachea.
-
Oxygen Mask:
- Used to deliver oxygen to patients with breathing difficulties.
- Types include non-rebreathing mask for high oxygen concentration and partial rebreathing mask for lower concentration.
Post-Care Instructions
-
Nasogastric Tube (NG Tube):
- Regularly rinse the mouth to prevent bacteria growth.
- Position the patient semi-erect to prevent backflow of stomach contents.
- Change tapes regularly to prevent scars and keep the area clean.
- Regularly check the tube's patency by aspirating contents with a syringe.
- Inspect lips and nose for damage.
- Adhere strictly to diet orders.
- Lubricate lips and nose for comfort.
- Consider the psychological impact of having an NG tube on the patient.
-
Urinary Catheter:
- Ensure proper urine flow into the drainage bag.
- Check for inflammation or signs of infection at the insertion site.
- Keep the drainage bag below the bladder level.
- Prevent the drainage bag from pulling on the catheter.
- Provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
-
Colostomy Bag:
- Always wash hands before tending to the stoma bag and site.
- Keep the area clean and dry, disinfecting regularly.
- Wash gently with warm water and pat dry, never rub.
- Eat a high-fiber diet.
- Discard used bags properly.
- Encourage patient and caregiver training on stoma care.
- Address the psychological impact of having a colostomy.
- Clean the stoma area gently after removing the pouch.
- Sprinkle ostomy powder and wipe off excess before reapplying the pouch.
-
Pacemaker:
- Avoid pressure on the pacemaker site.
- Keep the incision clean and dry.
- Monitor for signs of infection.
- Avoid electrical appliances that may affect the device, such as MRI machines, car engines, and airport security gantries.
-
Tracheostomy Tube:
- Keep the tracheostomy tube site dry.
- Monitor the tube for blockages, excessive mucus, and infection around the skin.
- Regularly check the tube's positioning and prevent dislodgment.
- Observe for patient distress or breathing difficulties.
- Ensure the balloon cuff is always inflated to ensure full oxygen access.
-
Oxygen Mask:
- Observe for any signs of respiratory distress.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.