It is not uncommon for patients to have cardiovascular or
respiratory problems when they consult physicians. As a
medical assistant, you may be responsible for performing
screening and/or diagnostic testing in the physician's
office. To correctly perform testing on the cardiac or respiratory
system, you need to review the anatomy and physiology
of the heart and the respiratory system. This chapter
introduces you to the electrocardiograph instrument and
how to administer an electrocardiogram. You will also
learn how to apply electrocardiograph electrodes and
wires, operate the instrument, and troubleshoot problems
that can occur while recording the heart's electrical activity.
Because many physicians perform more complex cardiac
diagnostic testing, you will also learn about Holter
monitors and stress testing. Pulmonary function testing
is more commonplace now in physician's offices, and
this chapter introduces you to the basics of performing a
spirometry. |