1. Diagnostic Procedures and Pharmacology

2. Basic Examination Procedures
Assessment – the evaluation of a patients condition
Vital Signs – measuring or counting the temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure
Auscultation – listening to body sounds (lungs, heart, abdomen) using a stethoscope
Palpation – using hands to feel texture, size, consistency, and location of body parts

3. Basic Examination Positions
refer to pictures in your packet
Recumbent – laying down (no matter what position - back, side or front)
Prone – laying on the front of the body, face down
Supine – laying on the back, face up
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Dorsal Recumbent – laying supine, with knees bent so that feet are on stretcher 3

4. Laboratory Tests
Phlebotomy (phleb/o = vein + -otomy = surgical incision) - puncture of a vein to draw blood
CBC (complete blood count) – series of tests to evaluate several blood conditions (such as anemia, leukemia, infection, etc…).
BUN (blood urea nitrogen) – blood tests that shows kidney function

5. Laboratory Tests Cont’d.
Urinalysis – examination of urine to determine presence of abnormal elements (such as glucose, protein, pus, blood, etc…)
Endoscopy (endo = within + -scopy = visual exam.) – visual examination of the interior of a body cavity
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Centesis (-centesis = surgical puncture to remove fluid) – fluid is removed for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid

6. Imaging Techniques
Conventional radiology – (X-rays) radiation passes through the patient to expose a film that shows the body in profile
Computerized tomography – (CT) radiation with computer assistance produces multiple cross-sectional images of the body
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging – (MRI) uses combination of radio waves and magnetic field to produce images

7. Imaging Techniques Cont’d
Radiographic contrast medium – substance used to make structures visible that are normally hard to see (example – barium).
Diagnostic Ultrasound – imaging of deep body structures by using sound waves
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8. Imaging Techniques Cont’d
Nuclear Medicine – looks at how well body organs or systems are functioning instead of anatomy
Positron Emission Tomography – combines tomography with radionuclide tracers to produce images of selected body organs or areas.

9. Pharmacology
Prescription – an order for medication, therapy, or a therapeutic device (walker, nebulizer, etc..) given by an authorized person (MD, NP, Dentist, etc…) to a person properly authorized to dispense or perform that order.
Prescription drug – medication that may be dispensed only with a prescription from a licensed professional.

10. Pharmacology Cont’d.
Adverse Drug Reaction – undesirable drug response (rash, hives, etc…) that goes along with the desirable drug response
Contraindication – a factor in the patients condition that makes the use of a drug dangerous or ill-advised (contra = against); not a bad drug, but a bad drug for this person at this time

11. Routes of Administration
Inhalation – vapor or gases taken in through the nose or mouth and absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. Examples – anesthesia, nebulizer medication, asthma inhalers
Oral – drugs taken by mouth to be
absorbed in the stomach or small intestine
Rectal – insertion of medication in the rectum either by suppository or liquid (such as Phenergan).

12. Routes of Administration Cont’d.
Sublingual (sub = below, under + lingu/o = tongue + -al = pertaining to) – medication given under the tongue and allowed to dissolve
Topical – lotions, ointments, or eye drops that are applied for local action

13. Routes of Administration Cont’d.
Transdermal – applying drug to unbroken skin through a patch for absorption through the skin
Parenteral – administration of medication by injection through a syringe & needle; common types are: intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SQ), intravenous (IV) or intradermal (ID).

14. Common Pharmacology Abbreviations
a.c. = before meals Ex – take one tablet a.c.
ad lib = as desired Ex – activity ad lib
b.i.d. = twice a day Ex – take one tablet b.i.d.
NPO = nothing by mouth Ex – NPO after midnight
p.c. = after meals Ex – take one tablet p.c.
p.r.n. = as needed Ex – one tablet prn every 4 hrs
p.o. = by mouth Ex – take one po in the morning
qd = every day Ex – take one po qd
q.i.d. = four times a day Ex – take one po q.i.d.
t.i.d. = three times a day Ex – take one po t.i.d.

15. Career Opportunities
Medical Lab technologist – works under supervision of a pathologist examining
tissues, fluids and cells
Medical Lab technician – works under supervision of a MT or pathologist performing routine tests that do not require and advanced degree
Histologic technician – works under supervision of MT to cut and stain tissue specimens

16. Career Opportunities Cont’d
Medical Laboratory assistant – prepares specimens for testing and helps clean & maintain equipment
Pharmacy technician – works under
supervision of Pharmacist to prepare
medications for patients
Radiologic technologist – works under supervision of Radiologist to perform a variety of radiological tests

17. Career Opportunities Cont’d.
MRI technologist – an RT that works with magnetic resonance imaging
Radiation Therapy technologist – prepares cancer patients for treatments and administers prescribed dose of radiation to specific body parts
Sonographer – conducts ultrasound tests 17