Chapter 1:

Emergency Cardiac Care and the Health Care Provider

 

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, participants should be able to:

•   Describe the role of the health care provider and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

•   Describe physical and mental preparations that are needed as a health care provider.

•   Identify diseases that pose a risk of transmission to health care providers and precautions to minimize transmission of such diseases.

•   Describe the health care provider’s role in educating others about reducing risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

•   Identify the links in the Chain of Survival and the role of the health care provider within the chain.

•   Describe legal and ethical concerns that a health care provider may have to deal with.

Approximate Time: 10 minutes

Skill Practice: No

DVD Covers Points in Lesson: Yes

PowerPoint™ Presentation Supports Points in Lesson: Yes

 

Teaching Points

•   The initial care provided by health care providers is known as basic life support (BLS). BLS skills include rescue breathing, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver.

•   In addition to having good BLS skills, health care providers need to be physically and mentally prepared for an emergency. This preparation includes:

§  Being physically fit.

§  Periodically reviewing your skills.

§  Examining additional reference material, as it becomes available, to stay up-to-date on changes in CPR techniques and advances in care.

•   As a health care provider, you should be aware of airborne and bloodborne diseases to which you may be exposed. These include hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tuberculosis (TB).

•   Take standard precautions with personal protective equipment before responding to a cardiac or respiratory emergency. This may include eye protection, medical exam gloves, mouth-to-barrier devices, and antiseptic wipes or solution.

•   Vaccination programs and work practice controls are in place to protect health care providers.

•   Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. As a health care provider, you have an obligation to reduce your personal risk factors, educate others so that they can reduce their risk factors, and practice prevention.

•   The chain of survival can help reduce the number of deaths from heart disease, and you play an important role in the chain.

•   Heart attacks are the number-one killer in the United States. Know how to recognize a heart attack in its early stages, and use the acronym ACT WISELY to teach others how to intervene.

•   As a trained and skilled professional, you may have a legal duty to act. You need to be aware of the standard of care that you are expected to perform.

•   It is important to understand the patient’s right to consent to, refuse, or limit medical treatment, particularly as related to advance directives.

•   Updated guidelines from the National Association of EMS Physicians outline when CPR should be withheld or discontinued. Be prepared to provide emotional support to family members if resuscitation is unsuccessful.

•   You should be familiar with the Good Samaritan laws in your state and any other laws that may be applicable to your job setting.

 

Application

•   Participants should complete the “Check Your Knowledge” questions at the end of Chapter 1 in the textbook.

 

 

 

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