Acute Care Flashcards

1
Q

What is unique about the patient population in Acute Care?

A
  • Patients potentially medically fragile
  • May have gone through a life changing event
  • High stress for patient and for family
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is different about an Acute Care environment?

A
  • Variety of Acute Care settings
  • Patient may be connected to equipment or monitoring
  • Interdisciplinary approach
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How might the exam be different than an outpatient setting?

A
  • Need to know medical status at that moment (lab values, precautions, etc)
  • Consideration for high stress situations for patient and care givers
  • Rapid changes in status
  • Discharge often takes place prior to full recovery
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How might the exam be the same?

A
  • ICF model- patient centered
  • Past medical history
  • Thorough systems review
  • Prioritize impairments
  • Assess – Treat– Reassess
  • Address Fear
  • Deciding when it is appropriate to treat and when to refer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Health Care Continuum (Most Intensive to Least Intensive)

A

Most Intensive
- ICU Medical/Surgical
- Rehab Unit (hospital), Subacute Unit (SNF)
- Home Care, Assistive Living
- Outpatient Clinic, Urgent Care
- Independent HEP
Least Intensive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Intensive Care Units =

A

Highest Risk Settings
(Intensive Monitoring – medically fragile
Cognitive & behavioral assessment
Treatment is bedside)

Ex: NICU, CCU, Transplant ICU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

NICU stands for (2)

A

Neurological ICU
Neonatal ICU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

CCU stands for

A

Coronary Care Unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Surgical Acute Care

A

Step down from ICU

More medically stable / less fragile

Rehab progression functionally oriented

Treatment at bedside or in the PT inpatient gym setting

Ex: Total knee surgery. Looking at what they need to do next to be able to function.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who would assess Dysphagia?

A

Speech Language Pathologist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who would assess CN and DTR?

A

PT, Physician, OT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Who would assess cognitive and perceptual functions?

A

PT, Psychologist, OT, Neurologist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Who would assess safety in locomotion for DC to home

A

PT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Who would assess capacity to bathe and dress self

A

OT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Who would assess BP and Hr at regular intervals?

A

Nurse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How should you prepare to see a patient in an Acute Care setting?

A
  • Chart review (Current lab values, why they are here, family factors)
  • Informed consent/Advanced directives
  • Consultation with IDT(interdisciplinary team)/ nurse
  • Mental review of considerations for or contraindications to treatment
  • Develop a flexible plan
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Contraindications for Treatment - Acute Care

A

Priorities for PTs and GUIDELINES for Tx:
Hgb: < 8 no exercise
8-10 light exercise for essential ADLs
> 10 no restrictions/ exercise to tolerance
Na+: hypernatremia associated with dehydration and changes in mental status
Glucose: 250 – caution
> 300 danger for ketoacidosis
< 70 hypoglycemia / dizzy, faint, pale
INR and PTT: Prothrombin time: high = risk for bleeding
Vital signs
O2 Saturation: check expectation based on pt. hx

18
Q

Ketoacidosis

A

Body cannot process the blood glucose that is there

19
Q

When coming into a room what should you be observing?

A

Patient: Are they in pain, are they comfortable, how do they interact with environment
Family: How they interact with patient, what is the mood
Lines and Tubes: Are any under sheets?
Equipment: Walker?
Clues: Tell you how they have been up to this point

20
Q

Informally assess environment while you:

A
  • Introduce self
  • Mutually determine treatment goals for today/ get informed consent
  • Engage in small talk
21
Q

What is a phrase you can say so as to not rush too fast into things without properly assessing your environment?

A

“Thanks for your patience while I safely organize everything before we start to work.”

22
Q

What do we need to consider with medical restrictions/precautions?

A

Is aware of medical precautions
E.g., fractures and soft tissue injury from trauma

Notices any braces or restraints

Notices & ensures safety of tubes and lines
Draining out of patient? (positioned below)
Infusing into the patient? (positioned above)
Requires patient in head-up position?

23
Q

What are some requirements for Ethical and legal use for restraints?

A
  • deemed medically essential
  • use least restrictive option
  • re-ordered every 24 hours
  • 1-pull release
24
Q

Tubes for draining out fluids

A
  • Suction – NG/ secretions
  • Chest tubes
  • Wound drains
  • Catheters
  • Shunts
25
Q

Tubes for infusing fluids

A
  • IVs
  • Tube feedings
  • Blood transfusions
26
Q

Monitoring devices:

A
  • Arterial line/ Swan- Ganz line
  • Central venous lines – CVP and PICC lines
  • Pulse oximeter
  • Intracranial pressure line
27
Q

Breathing devices:

A
  • Oxygen masks/ nebulizer
  • Ventilator/ respirator
28
Q

Patient Energy is Precious. What is important as a PT to do?

A

Do NOT repeat tests if other’s results are clear & re-testing…
- Would not provide additional info or help clarify current status
- Would be detrimental to patient status

DO perform tests needed for PT specific goals
- focus on components to reach goals

29
Q

Systems Review and Screening

A

Mental status:
Alert and Oriented x 4?

CV/P:
BP, HR, Respirations, vascular flow, edema;
Status: at rest / with position change/ with activity?

Integument:
Skin intact? Color? Post-surgery or post-injury:
Status of wound and healing? Sensation intact?

Musculoskeletal:
A or PROM limits? Weakness? Strength screen?

Neurological:
Weakness? Incoordination? Imbalance? Cranial nerve deficits? Sensory loss?

30
Q

How should you select tests?

A

Completed systems review
- Observation and chart review

Prioritize testing
What tests will give you the most information needed at that moment?

Minimize position changes for patients with pain or low endurance
- Preplan your examination

31
Q

Functional Assessment - Acute

A

Method used, level of success, assist needed, indicators of safety

Bed mobility

Transfers (All in reverse as well)
Sit to Supine
Sit to Stand
Bed to Chair

Gait

32
Q

In acute care what is your intervention?

A

FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY

33
Q

Levels of Physical Assistance

A

Stand By Assistance (SBA)- PT does not touch or provide assistance but is close in proximity for safety

Contact Guard Assistance (CGA): PT needs to have 1-2 hands lightly touching pt to help steady pt; no other physical assistance

Min-Max assist chart

Need to know

34
Q

Considerations for total/max assistance

A

Integumentary
Skin breakdown from pressure
Consider a different mattress or assistance with changing positions

Cardiopulmonary
Pulmonary function in supine
Consider raising the head of the bed

Musculoskeletal
3-4% strength loss per day in the first week
Consider PROM or AAROM to maintain motion

Neuromuscular
Cognition, mental status
ALWAYS! ALWAYS! ALWAYS! Treat your patient with respect and explain what you are doing and why. You can not judge someone’s intelligence or comprehension based on verbal communication or a diagnosis.

35
Q

Determining Discharge Destination

A

Very short lengths of stay in acute care

May be asked to make a judgment with limited info

“What’s the next safe step?”

Outcome measures help us determine functional outcomes. Helps determine discharge.

36
Q

Options at Discharge

A
  • Discharge directly to home
  • Transitional Options - Going Home Shortly
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation
  • Inpatient care facilities
37
Q

Discharge directly to home

A

Independent (with or without equipment or changes to the home)

With support: physical assist of family/ in-home care providers

May include home-based therapy services if patient is “homebound”

38
Q

Transitional options - going home shortly

A

Transitional care unit

“Swing bed” at regional facility

Short term placement in skilled nursing facility (SNF)

Inpatient rehab unit ->

39
Q

Inpatient Rehabilitation

A

Dedicated IP Rehab Unit Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF)

Must have functional goals that require intensive rehab

Must tolerate 3 hours of PT, OT or SLP (combined) per day

DC plan established…to home or other community residential setting

40
Q

Inpatient Care Facilities

A

Assisted Living
Mostly independent with some assist
Ex: Bathroom safety

Skilled Nursing Facility
Slower pace than inpatient rehabilitation
Potential for improvement
Monitor levels, make medical decisions

Extended Care Facility
Higher level of assistance required
Not expected to return home

41
Q

When assessing discharge decision making what do we look for?

A
  • Medically stable
  • Is patient safe to function at home safely
  • Expected to gain safety from home with prescribed adjustment
  • Expected to gain safety for home within days