Clinical Medical Assisting

HAI

Healthcare-associated infections

WHO

World Health Organization

ABHR

alcohol based hand rub

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus

NIH

National Institute of Health

engineering controls

safety-engineered needles/syringes

universal precautions

treat all blood/body fluids as infectious

proper disposal containers

puncture-resistant sharps containers

sodium hypochlorite

household bleach 1:10 solution

asepsis

being free of disease-producing microbes

Medical asepsis

the practice of removing or destroying pathogens to prevent pathogens from spreading

Surgical asepsis

the practice of keeping items free of all microbes

sanitization

the scrubbing of instruments with special brushes and detergent to remove blood, mucous, etc.

disinfection

the process that destroys pathogenic microrganisms

sterilization

the process of destroying all microbial forms of life

autoclave

a device that forces the temperature of steam above the boiling point of water to sterilize

Aeseptic Technique

a method used to maintain sterility and prevent contamination during clinical procedures

Autoclaving

a common method of sterilization using high-pressure steam

Chemical sterilization

uses agents like glutaraldehyde or peracetic acid

clean

free from visible dirt or debris, but not necessarily sterile

contaminated

an item or area that has been exposed to pathogens or non-sterile surfaces

disinfected

pathogens reduced to a safe level, but not all microbes or spores are destroyed

event related sterility

the concept that sterility is maintained until an event(tear or wetness) compromises the package

sterile

free from all microorganisms

sterile field

a controlled environment created dure procedures to maintain sterility

microorganisms

tiny living plants or animals that cannot be seen by the naked eye

infection

a condition in which the body is invaded by a pathogen

pathogen

a disease-producing microorganism

direct-contact

occurs through skin to skin contact, kissing and sexual intercourse

indirect contact

the transfer of an infectious agent from a reservoir to a host by suspended air particles, inanimate objects or animate intermediaries

airborne transmission

when infectious agents are carried by dust or droplets suspended in air

vectors

intermediaries

droplet spread

spray with large, short-range aerosols (sneezing, coughing or even talking)

vehicles

inanimate objects

hand hygiene

the process of cleansing or sanitizing the hands

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome caused by a virus

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

hepatitis B

a liver disease caused by an inflammation to the liver HBV

hepatitis C

an infection of the liver caused by HCV

tuberculosis

a disease caused by Mycobacteriium tuberculosis, a airborne pathogen

nosocomial infections

any infections that first occur during a patient's stay at a healthcare facility

biohazard

bodily fluids, sharps

hazardous substances

any chemical in the workplace that can cause harm

Biohazard Symbol

indicates the presence of biological materials that pose a threat to human health

Toxic Waste Symbol

denotes acute toxicity

General Warning

signals less severe health hazards

Radiation Symbol

warns of ionizing radiation sources

Flammable Symbol

indicates that a substance is flammable and can easily ignite

ECG or EKG

records the heart's electrical activity

arrhythmias

irregular heart rhythms

myocardial infarction

heart attack

Radiation Symbol

right arm

LA

left arm

RL

right leg

LL

left leg

pericardium

the layer or sac that surrounds the heart

myocardium

the middle layer of the heart

endocardium

the innermost layer of the heart

epicardium

the top layer of the heart

Automaticity

the ability of certain heart cells to generate their own electrical impulse

Conductivity

the ability of cardiac cells to transmit electrical impulses from on cell to another

Contractility

the heart muscle's ability to shorten and contract in response to an electric impulse

Endocardium

the inner lining of the hear chambers and valves

Epicardium

the outer layer of the heart wall

Excitability

the ability of heart cells to respond to electrical stimulation

Myocardium

the thick muscular middle layer of the heart wall

Sinotrial node (SA Node)

beging the electrical activity of the heart

Atrioventricular node (AV Node)

located between the atria

Bundle of HIS

located between the ventricles

Purkinje fibers

located in the ventricle walls

requisition

a written or electronic request for procedures

Laboratory tests

blood panels, urinalysis, cultures

Diagnostic imaging

X-rays, MRI's, CT scans

Specialty tests

genetic testing, pathology, slides or biopsies

Random Urine Specimens

collected any time, no special measures needed

Midstream Specimen

also known as clean-catch/clean-voided - perineal area is cleaned prior to specimen collection

24 hour specimen

collected during a 24 hour period

glycosuria

sugar in the urine

hematuria

blood in the urine

PP

two hour post prandial glucose

GTT

glucose tolerance test

LTT

lactose tolerance test

BT

bleeding time test

ABG

arterial blood gas

Clinical Laboratory Sections

an area in a healthcare facility where inpatient and outpatient diagnostic testing is conducted

Hematology

department that hadles various blood speciment for testing

Osteomyelitis

when the lancet hits the bone in a dermal puncture

Hemolysis

the rupturing of red blood cells

EDTA and NA Citrate

anticlotting chemicals

Hct and Hgb

Hematocrit and Hemoglobin tests assess oxygen-carrying capacity and anemia

ESR

Erthrocyte Sedimentation Rate detects inflammation

PT and INR

Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio help monitor anticoagulant theraby

FOBT

hemoccult tests for hidden blood in stool

CCF

chain - custody form

Snellen Test

measures visual acuity

Ishihara Test

a color perception test

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Spirometry

measures amount of air a person can exhale and how quickly

FVC

total air exhaled after deep breath

FEV1

air exhaled in the first second