Radiology Basic Patient Care Terminology

Verbal Communication

Speaking using clear, concise language understood by the patient

Nonverbal Communication

Communicating with facial expressions, eye contact, or body motions

Diversity

Factors that distinguish humans from one another

Patient Education

Providing the patient with information regarding the procedure being performed, other imaging procedures, or other medical center services

Torts

personal injury law; civil wrong that causes someone else to suffer loss or harm

Assault

Action that causes fear or apprehension in the patient

Battery

Inappropriate touching or harm done to the patient

False imprisonment

Unjustified restraint

Invasion of Privacy

Violation of any aspect of patient confidentiality

Libel

Written defamation of character

Slander

Spoken defamation of character

Negligence

Unintentionally omitting reasonable care

Respondeat Superior

An employer is responsible for the employee's actions "let the master speak for the servant"

Res Ipsa Loquitur

Cause of the negligence is obvious, "the thing speaks for itself"

Implied Consent

Assumes the patient would approve care if conscious

Commonly used in emergency situations

Informed Consent

Patient provides consent after being fully informed on risk, benefits, and alternatives

Make sure patient is mentally competent

Oral (Expressed) Consent

Verbal or nonverbal

Used for noninvasive procedures

Patient Bill of Rights

Establishes rights for patients regarding diagnosis, treatment, privacy, prognosis, and alternatives

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Establishes legal regulations regarding confidentiality of patient records

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order

No code

Advance Directive

Document used by patient to provide directives regarding medical care before becoming incapacitated

Durable Power of Attorney

Patient provides for another person (personal representative) to make decisions regarding medical care if the patient is unable to communicate

Patient History

Provides information for the radiographer about the extent of a patient's injury, the range of motion the patient can tolerate, and the approximate location

Medical Asepsis

Microorganisms have been eliminated as much as possible

Surgical Asepsis

Complete removal of all organisms from equipment and environment

Standard Precautions

First tier of transmission-based isolation precautions; uses barriers to prevent contact with blood, all body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes when there is a chance that infection could be transmitted

Airborne Precautions

Particulate respirator required for individuals entering a patient's room

Droplet Precautions

Mask required for persons coming in close contact with a patient

Contact Precautions

Gloves and gown required for individuals coming in contact with a patient

Direct Contact Transmission

Infected person touches susceptible host

Indirect Contact Transmission

Inanimate object containing pathogenic organisms is placed in contact with a susceptible host

Airborne Transmission

Droplets and dust

Droplet Transmission

Primarily transmission by coughs, sneezes, or other methods of spraying onto a nearby host

Common Vehicle Transmission

Primarily transmission by contaminated items such as food, water, medications, devices, and equipment

Vector-borne Transmission

An animal or insect contains and transmits an infectious organism to humans

Handwashing, Hand Hygiene, Hand Sanitation

Most effective method to prevent the spread of infection

Infection Control Barriers

Gloves, protective clothing, masks, eye protection; personal protective devices (PPE)

Temperature

Normal adult oral temperature is 98 degrees F to 99 degrees F

Pulse

Normal adult pulse is 60 beats per minute

Tachycardia

Heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute

Bradycardia

Heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute

Respiration

Normal adult rate is 12 to 16 breaths per minute

Blood Pressure

Normal adult blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg

Sphygmomanometer

Device used to measure blood pressure

Systolic Pressure

Measurement of the pumping action of the heart

Diastolic Pressure

Measurement of the heart at rest

Oxygen Administration

Usual oxygen flow rate is 3L to 5L per minute

Suction Unit

Used to maintain patient's airway

Cardiac Arrest

Cessation of hear function

Crash Cart

Used in cardiac arrest; contains medications, airways, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, defibrillators, and cardiac monitors

Respiratory Arrest

Cessation of breathing

Shock

Failure of circulation in which blood pressure is inadequate to oxygenate tissues and remove by-products of metabolism

Hypovolemic Shock

Follows loss of a large amount of blood or plasma

Septic Shock

Occurs when toxins produced during massive infection cause a dramatic decrease in blood pressure

Neurogenic Shock

Causes blood to pool in peripheral vessels

Cardiogenic Shock

Secondary to cardiac failure or other interference with heart function

Allergic Shock (Anaphylaxis)

Allergic reaction to foreign proteins after injection of an iodinated contrast agent

Trauma

Serious and potentially life-threatening injuries

Ventilators

Mechanical respirators attached to trachostomies

Nasogastric (NG) Tube

Tube inserted through the nose and down the esophagus into the stomach

Chest Tube

Tube placed to remove fluid or air from the pleural space

Negative Contrast Agent

Most commonly used negative contrast agent is air

Positive Contrast Agent

Iodine or barium

Aqueous Iodine Compound

Water-soluble sterile contrast agent

Iodinated Ionic Contrast Agents

Salts of organic iodine compounds; composed of positively and negatively charged ions

Iodinated Nonionic Contrast Agents

Agents that do no ionize into separate positive and negative charges

Anaphylactic Reactions

Severe, life-threatening responses including flushing, hives, nausea, and difficulty breathing

Cardiovascular Reactions

Hypotension, tachycardia, cardiac arrest

Psychogenic Factors

May be caused by patient anxiety

Hypodermic Needle Gauge

Unit of measurement that indicates diameter; the larger the gauge, the smaller the diameter of the needle opening

Intravenous (IV) Catheter

Combination unit with a needle inside a flexible plastic catheter

Biohazardous Materials - Possible Routes of Entry

Inhalation, swallowing, absorption through the skin or mucous membranes

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Provides direction for handling precautions, safe use of the product, cleanup, and disposal of biohazardous materials

PPE

Personal protective equipment

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention