What do Vital Signs Consist of?

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Categories: Medical Assisting, Nursing

Anytime you go to the doctor, typically the first things that the Medical Assistant begins to measure are your Vital Signs. Do you know what Vital Signs are and what the normal range for an average adult should be? Vital signs typically consist of four primary readings: Temperature– the baseline for the body’s core temperature at which it functions under normal conditions. The body and its systems are constantly burning energy and temperature is tightly controlled. This process is called Thermoregulation. The average adult temperature is approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The purpose for checking body temperature is to check for an increased temperature; which is an indication that the body is fighting and infection. Pulse/Heart Rate– the expansion/contraction of an artery and is typically measured on the body at the wrist or ankle. The measure is counted in beats per minute and the average for an adult is 50-80 beats…

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What is Chairside Assisting?

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Categories: Dental Assisting, Uncategorized

Dental Assistants play a very important role in the dental office. The Dental Assistant often works along side the Dentist during patient examinations and procedures to assist her or him in the process. If you have had a dental examination or procedures performed by a Dentist, in most cases, a Dental Assistant was working “chairside” to assist the Dentist. Chairside Assisting refers to any operation that a Dental Assistant performs to assist the Dentist during a dental examination or procedure. Chairside Assisting can also be called, “Four-Handed Dentistry,” which refers to the Dentist’s two hands and the Dental Assistant’s two hands (totals to four hands), or “Six-Handed Dentistry”, which incorporates the Dentist, plus two Dental Assistants (totals to six hands). The Dental Assistant, who works chairside with the Dentist, assists in the processes to ensure that procedures and examinations are completed efficiently. Examples of Chairside Assisting duties performed by a…

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The Art & Science of Compounding

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Categories: Pharmacy Technician, Uncategorized

Compound Pharmacy is an age-old art that dates as far back as the ancient Egyptian era. With a Physician’s written prescription, a Pharmacist can create a custom-made medication by combining and compounding raw chemicals or powders. The new substance is then processed with special equipment and stored in a usable form for the patient. The medication is now tailored to the individual patient’s particular need, which encourages the patient to complete her required prescription. Pharmacy Technicians (under the direct supervision of the Pharmacist), assist the Pharmacist with the receiving, compounding and filling prescriptions. Pharmacists and Physicians work together to create a positive and effective experience for the patient. Compounding is very important and useful for a variety of reasons. With a Physicians order: Medication strength can be altered into a dosage that may not be typically available in a standard pharmacy The form of prescription can be altered to make…

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It’s Back to School and National Immunization Awareness Month

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Categories: Uncategorized

With summer break coming to an end, most children will be back to school beginning in August. This is a perfect time to reiterate the importance of vaccinations with August being National Immunization Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dedicated the month of August to educate the public and stress the importance of maintaining an immunization schedule proposed by the CDC. Activities focus on encouraging all people to protect their health by being immunized against infectious diseases. With the invention and constant evolution of vaccinations, many of the diseases that were common in century’s prior, such as small pox and polio, have been virtually eliminated from the U.S. population. However, with constant population increase and the invention of air travel, it is important to reduce exposure to other existing diseases that might not be prominent in the U.S., as well as other common diseases that…

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Arizona College Donates Blood for American Red Cross

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Categories: Career Services, Phlebotomy, Uncategorized

Have you ever donated blood? Donating blood is a simple thing to do and it makes a significant impact in the lives of others. If you have ever needed surgery, there is a large chance that you have answered the question, “If required, would you be willing to accept a blood transfusion?” Donated blood and blood products processed from donated blood saves lives every day. Donated blood is used for many purposes; including patients who require a blood transfusion during or after surgery, chemotherapy patients during treatment, and for patients living with various medical conditions such as sickle cell disease. Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and 41,000 pints of donated blood are used on a daily basis. Recently, both of our Arizona College campuses partnered with the American Red Cross, and held successful blood drives at each campus location. The Mesa Campus drive was held on…

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