1

Medical Assisting Chapter 14

PowerPoint® to accompany

Second Edition

Ramutkowski Booth Pugh Thompson Whicker

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

2

Patient EducationObjectives14-1 Identify the benefits of patient education.14-2 Explain the role of the medical assistant

in patient education.14-3 Discuss factors that affect teaching and

learning.14-4 Describe patient education materials used

in the medical office.

3

Patient EducationObjectives (cont.)

14-5 Explain how patient education can be used to promote good health habits.

14-6 Identify the types of information that should be included in the patient information packet.

14-7 Discuss techniques for educating patients with special needs.

4

Patient Education

14-9 Explain the benefits of patient education prior to surgery, and identify types of preoperative teaching.

14-10 List educational resources that are available outside the medical office.

Objectives (cont.)

5

The Educated Patient

Takes a more active role in medical care

Is often more compliant with treatment programs

Is better informed about how to maintain a healthy state

6

Brochures, Booklets, and Fact Sheets

Explain procedures that are performed in the medical office Provide information about specific diseases and medical conditions Provide information to help patients stay healthy

Types of Patient Education

7

Educational Newsletter

Medical office newsletters : Are written by the doctor or office staff Contain practical health care tips Offer updates on office policies Provides information about new diagnostic tests and equipment

Types of Patient Education(cont.)

8

Community Assistance Directory

A written community resource directory prepared by the medical office is a valuable aid for referring

patients to appropriate agencies.

MealsOn

Wheels

DayCare

Centers

MedicalServices

Types of Patient Education(cont.)

9

Videotapes are used effectively to educate about complex subjects and procedures.

Many physicians arrange classes and seminars for their patients.

Types of Patient Education (cont.)

10

A medical assistant employed in a cardiology office is asked by the physicians to create some form of publication to educate patients in healthy heart habits. Which of the following mediums do you feel will be most effective and why?

Apply Your Knowledge

A. Create a fact sheet with text explaining common heart diseases.

B. Check out several books on healthy habits that affect the heart from the local library.

C. Create a brochure with pictures and text to focus on dietary and other heart functioning.

11

Apply Your Knowledge - AnswerAnswerA medical assistant employed in a cardiology office is asked by the physicians to create some form of publication to educate patients about healthy heart habits. Which of the following mediums do you feel will be most effective and why?

A. Create a fact sheet with text explaining common heart diseases.

B. Check out several books on healthy habits that affect the heart from the local library.

C. Create a brochure with pictures and text to focus on dietary and other heart functioning.

This is the best answer because books can not be taken out of the office and a fact sheet with no pictures might not be as appealing to a large number of patients.

12

Promoting Good Health ThroughEducationHealth is a complex concept involving physical,

mental, emotional and social influences. Consumer Education has helped Americans

become more aware of good health practices. Ways to achieve good health:

Develop good health habits Protect self from injury Take preventive measures to protect against

disease and illness

13

Good NutritionRegular Exercise

Adequate Rest

Promoting Good Health ThroughEducation (cont.)

14Balance

Work Leisure

LimitingAlcoholIntake

No Smoking

Promoting Good Health ThroughEducation (cont.)

15

Protection from Injury

Educate patients about safety tips to prevent injuries at home, work, and during play times.

Teach patients about the proper use of medications.

Promoting Good Health ThroughEducation (cont.)

16

Three Levels

Health-Promoting Behaviors

Screening

Rehabilitation

Primary level of prevention

Secondary level of prevention

Third level of prevention

Promoting Good Health ThroughEducation (cont.)

17

Categorize the following list of behaviors as being a first, second or third level of prevention.

Tuberculin skin test

Monthly self breast exam

Adopting healthy eating habits

Annual Mammograms

Bladder retraining programs

Apply Your Knowledge

18

Categorize the following list of behaviors as being a first, second or third level of prevention.

Apply Your Knowledge - AnswerAnswer

Tuberculin skin test

Monthly self breast exam

Adopting healthy eating habits

Annual Mammograms

Bladder retraining programs

19

The Patient Information Packet Benefits of the Information Packet

Simple, inexpensive, and effective medium to

improve relationships between the office and the

patients Provides important information about the office

policies and staff roles Excellent marketing tool

All materials should be written at a sixth grade level for reading ease of all patients.

20

Contents of theInformation Packet

• Introduction to the Office• Physician’s Qualifications• Description of the Practice• Introduction to the Office Staff• Office Hours• Appointment Scheduling• Telephone Policy

The Patient Information Packet

21

• Payment Policies• Insurance Policies• Patient Confidentiality Statement• Other Information

The Patient Information Packet (cont.)

Contents of theInformation Packet (cont.)

22

Distributing the InformationPacket Patients must receive and read the information

packet in order for them to be effective.

Methods to distribute the Information Packet

Hand the packet to new patients and review the contents with them. Mail the packet to patients prior to the initial visit if time permits. Keep additional copies available in the office where patients can easily access them. For patients with special concerns, pictures and charts may be needed to communicate the information.

23

The medical assistant is employed at a very busy internal medicine office with seven physicians and five nurse practitioners. Following their office visit, several patients inquire about the credentials of the medical practitioner seeing them during the visit. How can this information be made available to the patients?

Apply Your Knowledge

24

The medical assistant is employed at a very busy internal medicine office with seven physicians and five nurse practitioners. Following their office visit, several patients inquire about the credentials of the medical practitioner seeing them during the visit. How can this information be made available to the patients?

Using a digital camera or other device, photos of office personnel and their credentials can be placed in the office content packet.

Apply Your Knowledge - AnswerAnswer

25

Educating Patients with Special Needs Elderly Patients

Show respect Put information in writing Adjust procedures as needed when limitations are present

Patients with Mental Impairments Use tact and speak at the patient’s level of understanding Common conditions

Dementia Alzheimer’s disease Emotional problems Drug addiction Mental retardation

26

Patients with Hearing Impairments Remember that their inability to hear is not a

measure of their intelligence. Patients with Visual Impairments

Verify that all verbal instructions have been heard correctly.

Multicultural Issues Patients from diverse cultures may have different

beliefs about the causes and treatments of their illness.

Educating Patients with Special Needs (cont.)

27

Patient Education Prior to Surgery

Educational Legal

Informed ConsentPreoperative Instructions

Postoperative Instructions

28

Benefits of Preoperative Education

Increases patients’ overall satisfaction Reduces patient anxiety and fear Reduces use of pain medication Reduces complications following surgery Reduces recovery time

Patient Education Prior to Surgery(cont.)

29

Factual Sensory Participatory

Informs patient of specific details about the procedure and needed restrictions before and / or after surgery.

Provides the patient descriptions of various sensations they may feel during the procedure.Includes explanations, and demonstrations of certain techniques required after surgery. Patients are allowed to provide a return demonstration of the technique to validate understanding and technique accuracy.

Patient Education Prior to Surgery(cont.)

30

Using Anatomical Models A visual representation helps patients better

understand what will take place Helping Patients Relieve Anxiety

Allow extra time for patients to grasp information and use positive words when possible

Verifying Patient Understanding Have patients explain to you in their own words

their understanding of what has been taught Also return demonstrations of procedural

instructions validate understanding

Patient Education Prior to Surgery(cont.)

31

Additional Educational Resources Libraries Computer Resources Community Resources AssociationsNote: These outside resources may be used by office personnel or patients to obtain educational information.

32

A patient with both a visual and hearing impairment requires preoperative teaching by the medical assistant. What would be most essential in such a situation?A. Be sure to speak loud and slow to the patient.

B. Request that the patient repeats to you in their own words, the preoperative information.

C. Insist that someone accompany the patient to the office.

Apply Your Knowledge

33

Apply Your Knowledge - AnswerAnswerA patient with both a visual and hearing impairment requires preoperative teaching by the medical assistant. What would be most essential in such a situation?

A. Be sure to speak loud and slow to the patient.

B. Request that the patient repeats to you in their own words, the preoperative information.

C. Insist that someone accompany the patient to the office.

A. Be sure to speak loud and slow to the patient.

B. Request that the patient repeats to you in their own words, the preoperative information.

C. Insist that someone accompany the patient to the office.

34

End of Chapter