PATIENT CARE

Patient is a person who is ill and requires care/attention by professionals, relatives

Patient care refers to services rendered by members of the health professions for the benefit of a
patient

Refers to the calm environment which the patient demands. This environment can be created
both verbally and inverbally depending on the manner one handle himself/herself.

Types of illness potential illness –The disease that is not fully developed

Actual illness-The disease that has fully developed -

RADIOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT

Patient preparing for radiography are always worried or apprehensive hence this calls for

Understanding, patience and empathy

The medical imaging technologist and the patient should co-operate in a partnership to

 Identify problems together

 Explain and discuss problems with the patient
 Resolve health programme together

REQUIREMENTS BEFORE RADIOGRAPHY

1. Self introduction as a regard to dignity. Both patients and radiographer

2. Confirming the patient identity by the radiographer
3. Waiting period ought to be minimal i.e. by creating an environment that is busy
4. Clean clothing to be provided for the undressing patients
5. A peace of mind environment, flowers aesthetic attraction
6. Privacy is of paramount importance in radiography i. e only authorized persons should be
allowed in the room and the doors should be closed at all times
7. Comfort –Soft and comfortable lying surfaces
- Sufficient pillows, foam pads and sandbags
- The patient should not be allowed to descend from the table alone

8. The hygiene of the room together with that of the patient should be maintained in their high

Standards eg vomiting bowels, exchange sheets of the x-ray couch

9. In order to avoid repetition of the radiography the patient should be immobilized. This can be
achieved by the use of head clambs, head bands, foam pads, sandbag
10. The radiographer must see that everything is in it right working state. It should also give
instructions regarding positioning and respiration before x-ray.

11. Tips or explanation on what the patient is about to receive may be passed to him/her so as not
to surprise the patient during the diagnostic operation

12. Radiographer should be set to counteract emergencies when they occur.

EXPECTATION OF A PATIENT ON IMAGING TECHNOLOGY

1. Expect us to be correct and knowledgeable in the practice of imaging

2. To be competent in the performance of imaging skills

3. They hold us responsibility and expect us to be committed in the provision of imaging services

4. Expect us to be available when needed

5. Expect us to ensure privacy

6. Expect us to be courteous and accept differences among individuals

7. To allow them participate in decision making

8. Provide explanations in a language that is understandable

9. Expect us to listen and believe what they say

10.To teach techniques that will promote improvement of health.

COMPONENTS OF PATIENT SERVICES

Every aspect of a man is related 2 one another

Patient problems range from:

 Physical problems
 Social problem
 Spiritual problem
 Emotional problem
PHYSICAL SERVICES
Involve the provision of skills that assist the body in maintaining or determining the normal
functions eg maintaining breathing, nourishment
EMOTIONAL SERVICES
Psychology is the principle used to handle emotional problems.
It involves a lot of caring, comforting, compassion, human kindness and skills to encourage the
patients feelings
Reflects interests and concern for others

SOCIAL SERVICES
Deals with relationship among people
If one members of a group experiences a health problem it will affect all other members
It provides skills that strengthen relationships and mutual support among members of a group eg
illness may cause a temporary separation among members, financial hardship also interferes with
relationships among members
PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS
Need for security and survival
Affection and a feeling of belonging to a group
Recognition for achievements
Self fulfillment
SPIRITUAL SERVICES
Concerns with religion and plays a major role in the society
Help human to understand their relationship with the universe
Must ensure that patient care should not conflict with their doctrines

EMPATHY
Is a counseling scheme and it involves 3 things
Awareness of what the patient are experiencing
Anticipating the emotional state of the patient
Being able to remain important so that we can evaluate the situation the patient is in so that we
can help the patient.
HOW TO GATHER ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FROM THE PATIENT
By assessment –its an action that involves collecting and organizing information/data
Data is unprocessed information
The purpose for collection of data is to identify the past, current and the possible future
concerning health problems
DATA COLLECTION
Methods
 Ask patient questions
 Ask family members or escorts questions
 By reading the records of the patients
 To ask the collegues about what they have observed
TYPES OF INFORMATION
There are two types of data required from a patient namely;
Objective data-Has references and can be measured e.g. heart beat, blood pressure, body
temperature etc
Subjective Data-Has no references and cannot be measures e.g. pain

The important thing is to make sure you get the actual information and is obtained by validation
Validation-is making sure the information obtained is actual by using good equipment that are
working well. Also by double checking the information to come up with a range of possibilities.

CONSUMER RIGHTS
 The right to be informed-Risks and benefits of any product to be consumed/used by a
patient should be told to the patient before use/given to him
 The right to safety-The products should be tested before administered to the patient
 The right to choose-patient expect to be advised on the alternatives to help them choose
what they want
 Right to be heard-Medical imaging technologist should give the patients time to talk so
that they can say how they feel towards something/someone.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Ability to manage time so as to allocate sufficient and appropriate time to activities for both the
personal and the academic life that is essential for successful student
God has given us 24hrs per day
  8hrs working
 8hrs resting
 8hrs free
CONCEPT OF TIME
Brought about by calenders
The understanding of time is
 Time is money
 Time is always in motion
 Once time passes cannot be recovered
Time is associated with duration, era, seasons
Always plan the time wisely according to your activities i.e daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
TIME WASTERS IN PATIENT CARE
 Long tea and lunch breaks
 Don’t care attitudes
 Lateness
 Handling patients tasks pessimasticlly
 Lack of positive thinking and self confidence
TIME AND WORK
A. If apiece of work has been done to sustain human life then regardless of which work it is, it
must be done on time and fast
b. If time is not well managed it can be destructive
Indicator of poor time management is to be unable to complete the work given.