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MODULE 3 – Patient Characteristics
Objectives:
• Understand initial contact with a patient and how to get the person ready for
transport
• Show familiarity with various patient assistive devices
• Discuss common conditions and special needs of patients with specific diagnosis
Beginning a Transport
When you first approach a patient to transport
them, you have an opportunity to make a
good first impression and to get the transport
off to the right start. As a general rule, you
should begin every transport by:
Introducing yourself to the patient . Do
not use informal terms such as “honey”
or “sweetie” when addressing patients.
Confirming the destination and/or
appointment time
Asking if the passenger needs anything
before leaving (documents, purse,
medical information, etc)
Evaluating patient’s clothing, keeping
the current weather in mind
Addressing any special needs (locking
door, putting out water for pet, etc)
Following these steps will insure that your
patient knows the plan for the transport, and
that he or she has minimal anxieties about
leaving their home or facility.
Types of Disabilities
Patients you transport may need mobility
assistance for a variety of reasons. Some will
have physical disabilities, others will have
mental disabilities, and others may have
sensory disabilities. Others still may have a
combination of these disabilities. These
deficits may pose a considerable challenge to
you as you prepare to transport the patient to
his or her destination. It is important for you
as the MAVO to be familiar with the many
types of disabilities so that you can better
prepare to assist your patient.
Physical Disabilities
Patients will physical disabilities have some
kind of muscular or bone that makes moving
or weight bearing difficult. These patients will
need more physical help than other patients
as they will need to be moved, lifted, or
otherwise assisted physically. An important
concept with these patients is the idea that the
MAVO should provide only the assistance
necessary, and should allow the paitent to do
as much for him or herself as possible. For
example, let us say that a patient is
wheelchair bound, but can transfer
independently from the bed to the wheelchair.
An MAVO should allow the patient to move to
the wheelchair himself (staying close to
prevent a fall) and then assist the patient by
pushing and loading the wheelchair. The
MAVO should not overassist by lifting the
patient from the bed to the wheelchair.
Examples of physical disabilities
-
Broken hip
-
Paralysis
-
Generalized weakness
Mental Disabilities
Patients with mental disabilities will have a
psychiatric or psychological deficit of some
type. Patients with mental disabilities can
range from developmentally immature (they
behave as a child would), to consfused, to
occasionally beligerent. When a patient is
diagnosed as potentially aggressive, he or
she will generally be scheduled for ambulance