Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation Flashcards

During a telehealth visit, a patient reports chest tightness and shortness of breath. What is the telehealth coordinator's FIRST priority?

Answer: Instruct the patient to call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately

Chest tightness with shortness of breath may indicate a cardiac or pulmonary emergency, requiring immediate emergency services activation.

Which validated tool is most appropriate for remote depression screening during a telehealth patient assessment?

Answer: PHQ-9

The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is the standard validated instrument for screening and monitoring depression severity.

A telehealth coordinator is reviewing a patient's blood pressure readings submitted via a connected home device. The readings show 158/96 mmHg over three consecutive days. This finding is best classified as:

Answer: Stage 1 hypertension

Per ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines, Stage 1 hypertension is defined as systolic 130–139 mmHg or diastolic 80–89 mmHg; 158/96 falls in Stage 2 range — wait, 158/96 meets Stage 2 (≥140/≥90).

When assessing a patient's functional status remotely, which approach is most effective for a telehealth coordinator?

Answer: Use a standardized ADL/IADL questionnaire administered via video or secure messaging

Structured ADL/IADL questionnaires provide reliable, standardized data on a patient's functional capacity in the home setting.

A telehealth coordinator notices a patient has not completed a scheduled remote monitoring check-in for 5 consecutive days. The BEST initial action is to:

Answer: Attempt outreach via phone and document the attempt

Proactive outreach and documentation of contact attempts maintains continuity of care and patient safety monitoring.

Which component of the SOAP note format captures the objective data collected during a telehealth clinical evaluation?

Answer: O — Objective

The Objective section records measurable, observable data such as vital signs, device readings, and physical exam findings.

A patient using a telehealth platform reports that their home glucometer reading is 320 mg/dL and they feel nauseated. The telehealth coordinator should:

Answer: Document the value and notify the supervising clinician immediately

A blood glucose of 320 mg/dL with symptoms of nausea may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperglycemic crisis, requiring immediate clinical escalation.