A medical emergency can occur anywhere-in a doctor's
office, at home, in a restaurant, or on the street. The more
you learn about handling each type of medical emergency,
the more valuable your contributions to the situation become.
You can make a substantial, positive difference in
the health and lives of people who face medical emergencies
to which you respond. Always notify the doctor or the local EMS system when
you encounter a medical emergency. Do not, at any time,
perform procedures you have not been trained to do. Use
common sense, assess the situation and the patient's condition,
and provide first aid until a doctor or EMT arrives.
Patients having a medical emergency are often under
extreme stress. Remember to stay calm and communicate
clearly. Communicating with non-English-speaking patients
and those with visual or hearing impairments requires
special skills. You can develop these skills through
educational and training programs you seek out or during
routine office visits with these patients. You may not be present when medical emergencies
occur, so patients need to know how to respond to emergency
circumstances. Take every opportunity to educate
patients about preventing and responding to medical
emergencies. Remember to draw on community resources
when you provide information or support to patients and
their families. There will always be opportunities to expand
your knowledge, skills, and network for dealing with
medical emergencies in your medical assisting work.
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