Comprehensive Medical Assisting 3 rd Ed Unit Four

Vital Signs and Anthropometric Measurements • Vital signs – Cardinal signs – Frequently measured

Anthropometric Measurements Weight • Accurate weight is required for – Pregnant patients – Infants

Anthropometric Measurements Weight • Scale – Should be placed in a spot that the

Anthropometric Measurements Height • Can be measured using a – Movable ruler on the

The Three Types of Scales Used in Medical Offices Include the Digital, Dial, and

Vital Signs Temperature • Reflects a balance between heat produced and heat lost by

Vital Signs Temperature • Measured in either Fahrenheit or Celsius using a thermometer •

Vital Signs Temperature • Regulated by the hypothalamus – Perspiration occurs when the hypothalamus

Vital Signs Temperature • Stages of fever – Usually results from a disease process

Vital Signs Temperature • Stages of fever 1. Onset 2. Course (may vary) –

Vital Signs Temperature • Types of thermometers – Glass mercury – Electronic – Tympanic

Glass Mercury Thermometers Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Two Types of Electronic Thermometers and Probes Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health |

The Tympanic Thermometer in Use Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams

A Temporal Artery Scanning Thermometer Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams

Disposable Paper Thermometer Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Pulse • Expansion and relaxation of the arteries felt at various points

Measuring a Radial Pulse (Left) and an Apical Pulse (Right) Copyright © 2009 Wolters

Vital Signs Pulse • Characteristics – Assess • Rate • Rhythm • Volume Copyright

Vital Signs Respiration • The exchange of gasses between the atmosphere and blood in

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Measure of the pressure of the blood as it

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Cardiac cycle – Period from the beginning of one

Three Sizes of Blood Pressure Cups Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Korotkoff sounds – Five phases of sounds heard while

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Auscultatory gap – Possessed by patients with a history

End of Presentation Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

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Comprehensive Medical Assisting, 3 rd Ed Unit Four: Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting Chapter 19 – Anthropometric Measurements and Vital Signs Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs and Anthropometric Measurements • Vital signs – Cardinal signs – Frequently measured and recorded by a medical assistant • Anthropometric measurements – Information essential for the physician to diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders • Baseline – Taken during the first visit – Used as reference point Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Anthropometric Measurements Weight • Accurate weight is required for – Pregnant patients – Infants – Children – Elderly individuals – Patients who have been prescribed certain medications Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Anthropometric Measurements Weight • Scale – Should be placed in a spot that the patient is comfortable with – Type • Balance beam scale • Digital scale • Dial scale – Measured in pounds or kilograms Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Anthropometric Measurements Height • Can be measured using a – Movable ruler on the back of most balance beam scales – Graph ruler mounted on the wall – Parallel bar moved down against the top of the patient’s head Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Temperature • Reflects a balance between heat produced and heat lost by the body • Afebrile – Temperature within normal limits • Febrile – Temperature above normal Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Temperature • Measured in either Fahrenheit or Celsius using a thermometer • Methods – Oral – Rectal – Axillary – Tympanic Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Temperature • Regulated by the hypothalamus – Perspiration occurs when the hypothalamus senses that the body is too warm – Shivering occurs when the hypothalamus senses that the body is too cool Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Temperature • Stages of fever – Usually results from a disease process – Pyrexia • 102°F or higher rectally or 101°F or higher orally – Hyperpyrexia • 105° to 106°F • Considered dangerous Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Temperature • Stages of fever 1. Onset 2. Course (may vary) – Sustained – Remittent – Intermittent – Relapsing 3. Resolution Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Pulse • Expansion and relaxation of the arteries felt at various points in the body • Measured using – Two or three fingers over the pulse point – A stethoscope – A Doppler unit Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Respiration • The exchange of gasses between the atmosphere and blood in the body • The body expels carbon dioxide (CO 2) and takes in oxygen (O 2) • Characteristics – Rate – Rhythm – Depth Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Measure of the pressure of the blood as it is forced against the arterial walls • Systole – Phase when the heard contracts • Diastole – Phase when the heart pauses briefly Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Cardiac cycle – Period from the beginning of one heartbeat to the next • Measured using – A stethoscope – A sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) • Aneroid • Mercury Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Korotkoff sounds – Five phases of sounds heard while auscultating the blood pressure – Phases I and V are recorded as blood pressure • Pulse pressure – Difference between the systolic and diastolic readings Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Vital Signs Blood Pressure • Auscultatory gap – Possessed by patients with a history of hypertension – Loss of any sounds for a decrease of up to 30 mm Hg during the release of air from the blood pressure cuff Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins