This interactive lecture explores a variety of special health care needs. It devotes specific attention to medical technology and adaptive devices; cognitive, communication, and sensory impairments; chronic medical conditions; and patients with obesity. An understanding of the special challenges highlighted in this module will help prehospital care providers provide optimal care when EMS assistance is required for these patients.
After completing this course, the practitioner will be able to:
Define special health care needs.
Describe general considerations when providing care to patients with special health care needs.
Discuss medical technology and adaptive devices used in the prehospital setting.
Identify strategies for providing care to patients with cognitive impairments, including intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
Identify strategies for providing care to patients with communication impairments, including vision, hearing, and speech impairments.
Identify strategies for providing care to patients with sensory impairments, including cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
Identify strategies for providing care to patients with chronic medical conditions, including spina bifida and cerebral palsy.
Describe specific clinical and management concerns related to patients with obesity.
Practitioners who successfully complete Psychiatric and Behavior Emergencies (NRP Edition) course are eligible for 2 hours of continuing education
