Week1 - Intro Masterclass

Question 1

What is acute care?

Answer 1

Short-term, specialised hospital care aimed at restoring and maintaining health, often provided pre/post-operatively or in ICU/HDU settings.

Question 2

What are three environments where acute care physiotherapists typically work?

Answer 2

Surgical wards (pre/post-op), respiratory units and ICU/HDU.

Question 3

What are three core steps that make up acute assessment protocol?

Answer 3

Seek information –> ask questions –> do assessment.

Question 4

What is the now commonly used medical device instead of paper notes?

Answer 4

Electronic Medical Record (eMR).

Question 5

What key information can be obtained from the eMR?

Answer 5

History of presentation, medical imaging, pathology, medications and social situation.

Question 6

List four important lab/pathology values to monitor in acute care?

Answer 6

Haemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count and troponin.

Question 7

What does a CRP > 5-10 mg/L indicate?

Answer 7

Inflammation or infection.

Question 8

Who determines a patients WB status post-orthopaedic surgery?

Answer 8

The surgical/medical team.

Question 9

What are the four types of WB status?

Answer 9

NWB, PWB, TWB and WBAT.

Question 10

Depending on WB status, what can be used to assist?

Answer 10

Mobility aids such as walking stick or a frame.

Question 11

What are key components of a subjective assessment?

Answer 11

History of condition, PMHx, medications, mobility, home environment, social supports and patient goals.

Question 12

What strategies can support communication with patients in acute care?

Answer 12

Close-ended questions, paper and pen, communication boards.

Question 13

Why is orientation important to assess initially?

Answer 13

Indicates cognitive status and ability to consent and engage in care.

Question 14

Provide two examples of functional questions in a subjective interview.

Answer 14

“Can you get up out of bed?” and “Do you need to hold furniture to walk?”.

Question 15

What are the stages of a cough?

Answer 15

Deep inspiration –> glottis closure/expiratory muscles contract –> increased intrathoracic pressure –> glottis opens/high velocity expiration.

Question 16

List the varying types of cough.

Answer 16

Dry or moist, productive or unproductive.

Question 17

What is the significance of a weak or absent cough?

Answer 17

Impaired secretion clearance and risk of respiratory complications.

Question 18

What colour sputum suggests infection?

Answer 18

Purulent (yellow/green).

Question 19

What is the normal sputum production in a healthy adult?

Answer 19

20-30ml/day, up to 100 ml considered normal.

Question 20

What is another measure of sputum that isn’t colour or volume?

Answer 20

Viscosity.

Question 21

What is dyspnoea and how is it quantified?

Answer 21

Shortness of breath; Modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale (0-10).

Question 22

What is a key feature of dyspnoea in respiratory conditions?

Answer 22

Often disproportionate to the level of disease or activity.

Question 23

What are the “4 S’s” of a wheeze?

Answer 23

Sputum, Spasm, Swelling and Structure.

Question 24

What does a high-pitched monophonic wheeze suggest?

Answer 24

A fixed/near total, single airway obstruction.

Question 25

What is frank haemoptysis and why is it concerning?

Answer 25

Bright red blood in sputum; May require emergency intervention such as bronchial artery embolisation.

Question 26

How is a pack-year smoking history calculated?

Answer 26

Packs/day x number of years smoked.

Question 27

What are some risks associated with vaping?

Answer 27

Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and lung damage.

Question 28

What are normal adult respiratory rate and heart rate ranges?

Answer 28

RR = 12-20 breaths/min; HR = 60-100 bpm.

Question 29

What does the ACVPU scale assess?

Answer 29

Level of consciousness; Alert, Confused, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive.

Question 30

Why is "Between the Flags" important?

Answer 30

A safety system for early detection of clinical deterioration using vital signs.

Question 31

List three components of functional assessment in bed?

Answer 31

Bed-mobility, sitting balance, sit-to-stand.

Question 32

What are other functional objective assessments?

Answer 32

AROM, PROM, muscle strength, muscle length, neurological Ax.

Question 33

List five assessments complete within acute care.

Answer 33

Cough Ax, chest x-rays, arterial blood gases, auscultation, spirometry.

Question 34

What should always be considered before initiating an objective assessment in acute care?

Answer 34

Equipment attached, vital signs, safety and medical stability.

Question 35

What are four main impairments used to classify problems in acute care physiotherapy?

Answer 35

Oxygen movement, CO2 clearance, Secretion clearance, Mobility impairments.

Question 36

How is the problem list used in acute care practice?

Answer 36

To identify and prioritise physiotherapy goals and appropriate treatments.