Medical Assistant

Parts of the medical history include: - 1. chief complaint 2. history of present illness (HPI) 3. past, family and social history (PFSH) 4. review of systems (ROS) Define chief complaint - what brings the patient in to see the physician Define history of present illness (HPI) - explanation of the chief complaint to determine: 1. onset of illness 2. associated symptoms 3. what the patient has done to treat the illness Define past medical history - 1. all health problems 2. major illnesses 3. surgeries 4. current medications complete with reasons for taking them 5. allergies Define family history - summary of health problems of siblings, parents and other blood relatives Define social history - Includes: 1. marital status 2. occupation 3. educational attainment 4. hobbies 5. use of alcohol/tobacco/drugs 6. lifestyles Define review of systems - orderly and systematic check of each organ and system of the boy by questions. What are the 3 vital signs that are necessary for life? - 1. temperature 2. respiration 3. heart function (blood pressure) What are the four vital signs of body function? - 1. temperature 2. pulse 3. respiration 4. blood pressure What is the normal range of body temperature? - 96.6-100.6 F Define body temperature - the balance between heat production and heat loss Body temperature is regulated by what structure? - the hypothalamus Site for most accurate body temperature - Rectum Least accurate site for body temperature - Axillary 3 types of fever - 1. Intermittent 2. Remittent 3. Continuous Define intermittent fever - fluctuating fever that returns to or below baseline then rises again Define remittent fever - fluctuating fever that remains elevated: it does not return to baseline temperature Define continuous fever - a fever that remains constant above the baseline: it does not fluctuate Which is the most common site for temperatures - oral