Abdominal Pain

1. What are the common causes of abdominal pain?

2. What causes of abdominal pain, if missed, are potentially serious or even lethal?

3. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing abdominal pain? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.

4. What are the important elements of the physical exam when assessing abdominal pain? Discuss the purpose for examining each one.

5. What is the pathophysiology of esophageal reflux (heartburn).

6. List possible complications associated with esophageal reflux.

7. What are the key H&P findings associated with esophageal reflux?

8. What is the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease.

9. List possible complications associated with peptic ulcer disease.

10. What are the key H&P findings associated with peptic ulcer disease?

11. Describe the pathophysiology and presentation of cholelithiasis (gallstones).

12. What are the key H&P findings associated with gallbladder disease?

13. Describe the signs/symptoms and screening tests that can aid in the recognition of gastrointestinal malignancy.

14. Discuss the listings and their significance for each of the triage categories for abdominal pain?

15. What is the field treatment plan for abdominal pain?

16. What are the important patient education issues in respect to abdominal pain?

Part B:

Vomiting and Diarrhea
1. What are the common causes of vomiting and/or diarrhea?

2. What causes of vomiting and/or diarrhea, if missed, a
re potentially serious or even lethal?

3. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing vomiting and/or diarrhea? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.

4. What are the important elements of the physical exam when assessing vomiting and/or diarrhea? Discuss the purpose for examining each one.

5. What is the pathophysiology/presentation of gastroenteritis.

6. List possible complications associated with gastroenteritis

7. What is the pathophysiology/presentation of serious diarrhea?

8. List possible complications associated with serious diarrhea.

9. What is the pathophysiology/presentation of acute gastritis?

10. List possible complications associated with gastroenteritis.

11. List possible complications associated with serious diarrhea.

12. List possible complications associated with gastritis.

13. Discuss the listings and their significance for each of the triage categories for vomiting and/or diarrhea?

14. What is the field treatment plan for vomiting and/or diarrhea?

15. What are the important patient education issues in respect to vomiting and/or diarrhea?

 

Part C:

Urinary Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Diseases

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
1. What are the common causes of problems with urination?

2. What causes of problems with urination, if missed, are potentially serious or even lethal?

3. What is the pathophysiology/presentation of urinary tract infections? Include difference in men and women.
Women:
Men:

4. Describe the changes in the urinary tract during pregnancy and why this may lead to infection.

5. Describe the following three common renal disorders in pregnancy and why they are a concern.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria:
Acute Cystitis:
Acute Pyelonephritis:

6. What are the signs and symptoms of lower urinary tract infection (cystitis).

7. What are the signs and symptoms of an upper urinary tract infection,
(pyelonephritis).

8. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing problems with urination? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.

9. What are the important elements of the physical exam when assessing problems with urination? Discuss the purpose for examining each one.

10. Identify the technique and results of the field chemstrip that are used to diagnose a urinary tract infection.

11. Describe other non-field lab tests that can be done on collected urine that are used to diagnose a urinary tract infection.

12. Describe when a urine culture is recommended.
13. Discuss the listings and their significance for each of the triage categories for problems with urination?

14. What is the field treatment plan for problems with urination?

15. What are the important patient education issues in respect to problems with urination?
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES:
16. Define STD and the common signs and symptoms of STDs

Definition:

Signs and symptoms:

17. List at least 10 sexually transmitted diseases.

18. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing STDs? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.
Does the patient have problems in the g
enital or urinary system including:
Sexual history
General history
Menstrual history of the female

19. Discuss the listings and their significance for each of the triage categories for STDs?

20. List the common STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and discuss the role the Paramedic-CHS can play in their management.

Part D:
BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS:
1. Define somatoform disorder and explain why these patients need transport for initial evaluation.

2. What causes of behavioral disorders, if missed, are potentially serious or even lethal?

3. What is the pathophysiology of behavioral disorders?

4. Define the following terms:
Anxiety:
Depression:
Bipolar disorder:
Schizophrenia:
Delusional disorders:
Personality problems:
5. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing mental health disorders? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.

6. What are the important elements of the physical exam when assessing mental health disorders? Discuss the purpose for examining each one.

7. List some of the clues that suggest an organic cause for behavioral disorders.

8. Discuss the listings and their significance for each of the triage categories for mental health disorders?

9. What is the field treatment plan for mental health disorders?

10. What are the important patient education issues in respect to mental health disorders?

COUNSELING TECHNIQUES:
11. Describe the value of counseling (talk therapy) and medication in the patient with a behavioral problem.
12. Describe the general goals to remember when counseling a patient with a behavioral problem.

13. Describe what should be accomplished during a counseling session.

14. Describe the value of the following attitudes and techniques used in counseling.
Trusting yourself.
Being interested.
Using positive reinforcement.
Silence.
Being patient.
Trusting the patient.

15. Describe attitudes and techniques which are not helpful in the counseling session.

Part E

DIABETES

1. When receiving a request from a primary care provider to visit a diabetic patient, what information is important to obtain?

2. What complications of diabetes, if missed, are potentially serious or even lethal?

3. What is the pathophysiology of diabetes?

4. What are the end organ damages caused by diabetes?

5. What are the important historical questions to ask when assessing diabetes? Discuss the purpose of asking each one.

6. What are the important elements of the physical exam when assessing diabetes? Discuss the purpose for examing each one.

7. In what situations would you want to transport a chronic diabetic patient?

8. In what situations would you want to consult with the primary care provider or emergency physician while assessing a chronic diabetic patient?

9. What areas of information would you report back to the primary care provider?

10. What are the cornerstones of treatment?
Education.
Diet modifications.
Self monitoring of glucose
Oral hypoglycemic agents.
Insulin.

11. Describe insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents: their mechanism of action, duration of action, and side effects.
Oral Agents (glucotrol, glyburide, glipizide)
Mechanism of action..
Duration of action.
Insulin
Mechanism of action.
Duration of action.
Complications involved with hypoglycemic episodes.

12. Patient understanding about their disease is critical for compliance. What are the major issues you feel should be told to a diabetic?