Understanding Your Role

Question 1

What is an EKG Technician? Where do hey work? What are the primary duties?

Answer 1

• EKG = electrocardiography
• EKG techs can be found in hospitals, ambulatory care centers, or physician offices.
• as an EKG, your primary duties include: perform diagnostic tests, monitor blood pressure, and collect medical data

Question 2

According to the NHA (National Health Care Association), your duties as an EKG include

Answer 2

• scheduling appointments
• preparing patients for Holter or ambulatory monitoring
• setting up and administering EKG and/or stress tests
• editing and delivering final results for physician analysis

Question 3

Personal Qualities needed as an EKG tech

Answer 3

professionalism, adaptability, and presentation

Question 4

Character Traits needed as an EKG tech

Answer 4

warmth and confidence, curiosity and drive, and organizational + professional skills

Question 5

What is confidentiality and how it ensured in the healthcare?

Answer 5

It means to keep secret, it is ensured in healthcare by:
- hiring trustworthy and responsible staff
- ensuring all information stored on computer systems is secure and only made available to those with authorization
- standard and secure procedures in place for transferring patients within, between, and outside of facility

Question 6

Medical Ethics - What was the main goal of the AMA (American Medical Association)

Answer 6

the main goal was to:
- advance the science of medicine
- improve standard for medical education
- develop a program of medical ethics
- improve health of public

Question 7

What are the two main objectives of HIPAA

Answer 7

the two main objectives of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is:
1- PORTABILITY - maintaining health coverage after job loss/change
2 - ACCOUNTABILITY - complying with standards, mitigating impact, and reporting non compliance

Question 8

What is HITECH

Answer 8

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health, it was made to stimulate adoption of electronic records and transmissions

Question 9

What was the main goal of ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)

Answer 9

1. to create and save jobs
2. spur economic activity and invest in long term growth
3. support accountability and transparency in recovery spending

Question 10

The four main areas of consistent regulation according to the ASCA (Administrative Simplification Compliance Act)

Answer 10

1. Transaction and Code Sets
2. Privacy
3. Security
4. Unique Identifier

Question 11

Transaction and Code Sets

Answer 11

outlines format codes used for electronic transmissions
- HCPCS (Ancillary)
- CPT (Physician)
- CDT (Dental Terminology)
- NDC (National Drug Codes)
- IDC-10-CM or ICD-10-PCS (Diagnoses + Hospital Inpatient)

Question 12

Privacy Standards

Answer 12

national standards to protect medical records and PHI. this addresses the use and disclosure of PHI

Question 13

Security Standards

Answer 13

national set of standard for PHI that is held or transferred in electronic form.
TWO PURPOSES:
1- requires security safeguards to protect ePHI
2- promote access and use of ePHI while protecting health information

Question 14

Unique Identifier

Answer 14

establish specifics for obtaining and usage for providers.
TWO STANDARDS:
- EIN (given by the IRS to identify employers)
- NPI (collects information on health providers, 10-digits)

Question 15

3 Modes of Communication

Answer 15

visual, auditory, and kinesthetic

Question 16

Tips for Visual Based Communication

Answer 16

• demonstrate what you say
• body language
• make lots of eye contact
• use visual props
• ask to be shown what is needed
• MAY SPEAK FAST

Question 17

Tips for Auditory Based Communication

Answer 17

• ask open ended questions
• do not interrupt
• minimize distraction and background noise
• use phrases like “i want to hear your opinion”
• WILL GAZE LEFT TO RIGHT TO PROCESS INFORMATION

Question 18

Tips for Kinesthetic Based Communication

Answer 18

• welcome with a handshake and part with a pat
• use phrases like “get a feel for”
• do not rush when speaking
• WILL LOOK UP “INTO THE SKY”

Question 19

Five Steps to Active Listening

Answer 19

pay attention, question, reflect, clarify, and summarize.
- making the genuine effort to pay attention

Question 20

How to deal with a difficult patient?

Answer 20

• Be aware of your limitations and communicate HOW you can help
• use a soothing voice to show that you care
• listen and be considerate, allow the patient to speak