Understanding patients' rights - Doctor holding the hand of a male patient in a hospital.

15 Things You Should Know About Your Rights as a Patient

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It can be intimidating and confusing to seek out healthcare. However, as a patient, you have certain rights that keep you and your information protected. Here are ten things you should know about patients’ rights in healthcare:

1. You Have the Right to Be Treated Respectfully.

Regardless of health obstacles or disabilities, you should always be treated with respect. Discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, or anything else is not acceptable. Medical treatments can be very personal, and all healthcare providers should treat you with respect, especially during your most vulnerable moments. 

2. You Can Request Your Medical Records at Any Time.

You can request access to your medical records at any time. This includes your test results and other documentation included in your medical record. With electronic health records, access to your medical record is easier than ever. However, some providers may charge a fee. Check with your doctor’s office if you are unsure.  

3. Your Medical Records Should Be Kept Private.

Only you and your doctor, or another authorized healthcare practitioner in the same facility, have the right to see your medical records. In fact, there are substantial legal and monetary consequences if someone gains access to your medical records without your consent. Part of the relationship between the provider and the patient is trust, and you can trust that your medical team will keep your health information protected, unless it will harm someone or the public, for example. In this instance for example, the facility may have the right to break privacy rules. 

4. You Have the Right to Refuse Treatment.

You make the final decision regarding any treatment that you receive. You have the right to refuse care if you choose to do so. If the medical treatment goes against your beliefs or you simply don’t want it, you can refuse treatment. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as in an emergency or life-threatening situation, or if you are not able to refuse care. By and large however, the final decision is left up to you and any other individuals that you may choose to consult with, such as members of your immediate family or close friends.

5. You have the Right to Informed Consent

Patients’ rights also include informed consent. Before undergoing treatment, you have the right to understand the risks and procedures involved in the treatment, especially if treatment involves undergoing a surgical procedure.

6. You Have the Right to Make an End-of-Life Care Decision

End-of-life care policies vary depending on the state, but you have rights that protect the way that you want to receive end-of-life treatment.

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7. You Can Request Not to Be Weighed

You can choose not to be weighed or you can choose not to have your weight spoken aloud. You can choose how the topic of your weight is handled in terms of discussion.

8. You Can Determine the Individuals Who Enter Your Room

At a general wellness exam or another general appointment, you can decide who comes into your room.

9. You Control Your Own Body.

If something is making you uncomfortable during your medical exam or visit to the hospital, you have the right to speak up and say something, so that the practitioner is aware and can stop immediately.

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10. You Can Have a Faith Representative.

Depending on religion, you might want to have a faith representative who helps you during the appointment or when making decisions relative to medical treatment.

11. You Have the Right to Information.

The medical standard of informed consent gives you the right to information about your care. Before you consent to a procedure or treatment, you should know the risks, benefits, and alternatives to any care that you are contemplating receiving.

12. You Have the Right to Timely Care.

When urgent care is required, you should have timely access to it. If it will not harm your health, longer wait times are acceptable. 

cheerful black patient talking with doctor in hallway of hospital

13. You Have the Right to Get a Second Opinion.

Because of your right to medical choice (right to refuse), you can get a second opinion, or several opinions if you like. 

14. You Should Have Collaborative and Continued Care.

If you require care from a second facility or provider, your original provider should share current treatments and chart notes. 

15. Your Provider Must Disclose Conflicts of Interest Affecting Your Care.

Physicians must share any financial or personal conflicts that may compromise their ability to provide care. 

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These patient rights help ensure that you have quality care and that the care has a minimal negative effect on the quality of your life. The rights stated above make medical care more ethical and humane for all patients.

If you’d like to know more about medical ethics and healthcare, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. For healthcare courses, visit Avidity Medical Design Academy. For candles and scented soaps with a healthcare theme, visit Avidity Medical SCENTations.

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Medical Terminology in Nursing: How to Use Medical Terminology to Connect to Your Patients

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If you are a nurse, or thinking about a career in nursing, you want to do what is best for your patients. However, we also need to learn MCQs that don’t include clinical terms to pass the nursing board exam. By learning medical terminology, and a broad scope of knowledge, you can be better prepared for your future and your patients.

This article will show you the benefits of knowing medical vocabulary to be a better nurse.

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1. The Benefits of Learning Medical Terminology

Knowing medical terms helps you communicate with your patients and better explain why they feel sick or in pain. When you understand medical terminology, you can better explain to your patients what is happening to them and not just tell them that they have a cough or pain. You can apply medical terms even in social situations like when you go out to eat or where you live.

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2. Becoming a Better Nurse Means Being Able to Pass the Licensing Exam

You may be a great nurse, but if you can’t pass the licensing exam, you won’t be able to practice. Learning medical terminology helps nurses better analyze the patients and their medical history. This is an important part of the test that may help you pass or fail based on the quality of your analysis. Knowing medical terms will also help you to understand your own body better. This way, when a doctor asks you about the symptoms, you know what they are asking.

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3. Medical Terminology Helps Nurses Read Between the Lines and Understand Clinical Situations Unique to Specific Patients

Reading between the lines is essential to being a good nurse, and by knowing medical terminology, you will be able to read and understand what the doctor is trying to tell you. You will also be able to understand the clinical situations of your patients better. This way, even if you are not in the room with them, you can still make assessments regarding their current diet, medications, and exercise.

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4. Medical Vocabulary is Important to Do Your Job Well

Knowing medical terms is only half of the job of a nurse. As a nurse, you are an important member of the team that provides care for your patients. Being able to understand medical terminology so that you can serve your patients correctly is essential for you to be able to provide them with excellent care. You also need to take the information and make it mean something to your patient.

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Conclusion

For more and better care, nurses need to know medical terminology. It should be a fundamental part of their education. Knowledge is power for both nurses and patients when it comes to medical terminology – with the patient’s understanding of their condition being key in recovery, and nurses’ knowledge of clinical situations being vital for a practical health care experience. To learn the fundamentals of basic medical terminology, enroll in the course entitled, “How to Use Medical Terminology (in 5 EASY Steps!) (and USE IT in EVERYDAY Living!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.

To purchase scented soaps and candles inspired by healthy living, visit Avidity Medical Scentations.

For more health care tips and information, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog today.

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What You Need to Know About Suicide Risk Screening and How to Know if You are at Risk

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Suicide is a significant public health problem that leaves a lasting effect on your loved ones. In fact, it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States generally and the 2nd leading cause of death in people aged 10 to 34. Here’s where the importance of suicide risk screening comes in.

Suicide Risk Screening

Suicide risk screening is a process that estimates the probability of someone attempting suicide or dying by committing suicide. It is also one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide, especially in children and adolescents.

How to Determine if You Need Suicide Risk Screening

You need a suicide risk assessment if you have the following:

  • A history of attempted suicide.
  • Family history of suicide attempts.
  • You suffer from depression.
  • You have been through family violence.
  • You have been in prison recently.
  • You experience chronic pain.
  • Your family has a history of depression as well as other mental illnesses.
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How to Determine if You or Someone in Your Family is at Risk of Committing Suicide

When someone intends to commit suicide, you may notice a behavior change. Additionally, some of the red flags to watch out for are:

  • They keep talking about wanting to die.
  • They are anxious, agitated, and feel useless.
  • They become socially withdrawn and showing mood swings.
  • Their behavior suddenly becomes recklessness and impulsive behavior.
  • They abuse alcohol or drugs.
  • They give away their prized possessions.
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When to Seek the Advice of a Medical Professional or Trained Counselor

Every now and then, you may have depression. It’s vital to seek the help of a medical professional or a trained counselor if;

  • You have had symptoms for over two weeks.
  • Your symptoms are interfering with your ability to function at work and your social life.
  • You are contemplating suicide.

Final Thought

Follow our blog for more informative articles on healthcare and healthcare-related topics. Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to enroll in one or more healthcare courses on a variety of topics. Visit Avidity Medical Scentations to purchase scented candles and soaps with a healthcare theme.

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How to Prepare for Medical Emergencies: 10 Things You Should Have in Your Medical Emergency Kit

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Having a medical emergency kit is one of the things you at no time think you require until you do. They are essential for short-term survival providing core items to protect you from unforeseen events. Regarding any potential issue that may indicate a possible medical emergency seek a doctor’s advice. 

Types of Medical Emergency Kits

  •  First-aid kits
  •  Emergency kits
  •  Bleeding control kits
  •  Biohazard kits
  •  Hygiene kits
  •  Workplace first aid kits
  •  Burn kits

DIY Personal Medical Kit

Customizing your medical kit to meet your needs. Choose the type of kit you need, and the products you need to include in your kit. The kit should also be stored in a waterproof storage container, kept in an accessible place, checked, and resupplied every few months. 

Your emergency kit should have items for your essential needs in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency event. A doctor’s or a clinic’s phone number should also be part of the essentials. Some of the vital components you should have in your medical emergency kits are:

  •  Storage container
  •  Wound dressings and closure (roller gauze, medical tape, triangular bandage, gauze pads)
  •  Specialty equipment (for instance, an epi-pen)
  •  Topical cleansers and treatments
  •  Personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, and masks)
  •  Trauma care equipment (CPR pocket masks, trauma shears)

Before creating your medical kit, consider taking a healthcare course to familiarize yourself with the healthcare field. Avidity Medical Design Academy offers a variety of courses in different areas of healthcare. The next step is to determine the type of kit you need, based on your lifestyle or your family’s lifestyle. List the contents of your kit, how many kits you will need, and add items to each kit periodically.

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Importance and Benefits of Having a Medical Emergency Kit

  •  Having an emergency kit can be invaluable when you need professional medical help, or your life is in danger and you are waiting for an ambulance to arrive. For example, you may not be able to suture a wound, but you can slow down the bleeding for as long as you can until help arrives.
  •  Owning an emergency kit also ensures you are ready for any unforeseen medical events, especially for if you have a pre-existing illness.
  •  Creating your medical emergency kit offers you and your family peace of mind.
  •  Emergency medical kits are essential for fighting off stress as well as reducing the fear of the unknown. 
  • Creating a medical emergency kit also helps lessen the worrying part by helping you anticipate potential medical emergencies ahead of time. 

Circumstances That Necessitate Having a Medical Emergency Kit Around

Owning a medical emergency kit is imperative in preparing as well as protecting your household from unforeseen events. Some of the unexpected events that may necessitate having a medical emergency kit include:

  •  Car accidents.
  •  Allergies.
  •  Asthma attacks.
  •  Minor injuries.
  •  1st and 2nd-degree burns.
  •  Life-threatening medical conditions like diabetes.
  •  Insect stings.

To learn more about the medical field, visit Avidity Medical Design Academy and enroll in one of our many healthcare course offerings. For more informative healthcare articles, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. To purchase scented soaps and candles with a healthcare theme, visit Avidity Medical Scentations.

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Blood Pressure, Pulse, Temperature, and Respiratory Readings: What Do Your Vital Signs Say About Your Health?

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You’ve probably heard the phrase “vital signs,” but you may not know how truly important they are. Vital signs are an objective and helpful way to get a quick snapshot of someone’s health — including your own. For vital signs to be useful, however, you first have to understand what they are and why they’re important. 

What are Vital Signs? 

Vital signs are an objective measurement of all the critical physiological functions of a person’s body. In healthcare, vital signs are the essential first step in evaluating someone’s health status. Whether in a doctor’s office for a routine check-up or in the emergency room preparing for surgery, healthcare professionals will take a person’s vital signs before providing care. Why? Because vital signs, though simple, offer a plethora of information about a person and help direct the care professionals provide. 

Vital signs consist of four basic pieces of information: 

  • Temperature
  • Blood Pressure
  • Pulse (Heart Rate)
  • Respiratory Rate (Breathing Rate)

The information gathered from these four items can indicate a person’s health status by whether or not the numbers are within normal limits. 

Temperature: Normal Range 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit

A person’s temperature is typically taken with a thermometer by mouth, ear, or forehead. The normal temperature range is 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit may indicate a fever from an infection or dehydration. On the other hand, a low temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit may show that the person has been exposed to cold for too long or has an underactive thyroid. 

Blood Pressure: Normal Number 120/80 mmHg

a healthcare worker measuring a patient s blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps out blood and is obtained using a blood pressure device. The numbers on a blood pressure reading consist of two numbers, with one number (systolic) over another (diastolic).

Although “normal” blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or lower, most people fall within a range of that number. Because blood pressure readings measure the force of blood pumped by the heart, it says a lot about the condition of a person’s heart and cardiovascular system. A person with repeated high blood pressure readings of 140/90 mmHg, for example, may have heart disease. In contrast, a person with a very low blood pressure reading of less than 90/60 mmHg may be suffering from heart failure or heatstroke. 

Pulse: Normal Range 60 to 100 beats per minute

person holding blue pulse oximeter

Typically taken while a person is resting, a normal range for a person’s pulse — also known as heart rate — has a wide span of 40 beats per minute because a normal pulse may vary from person to person.

A person’s pulse fluctuates depending on their emotions, illness, injury, or even how often they exercise. An athlete, for example, may have a normal pulse of about 55 or lower due to their healthy heart. A non-athlete with a slow pulse of 55, however, may have a heart problem. Conversely, someone who has a fever, heart issues, or experiencing severe pain may experience a fast heart rate of 130 beats per minute. 

Respiratory Rate: 12 to 20 breaths per minute

Being able to breathe well is essential for life. Your breathing is one of the primary indicators of good health. A normal range for respiratory rate, also known as breathing rate, is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. For example, a low respiratory rate of 9 may indicate a drug overdose or carbon monoxide poisoning. A high respiratory rate of 24, however, may be a sign of a lung condition or pneumonia. 

Vital Signs: Knowledge is Power

When it comes to your vital signs, knowledge is power. Taking your vital signs and knowing what the numbers mean can help guide you to make healthy decisions about your habits and lifestyle. Your vital signs show you whether you’re on the right path and what you need to address to make improvements.

Interested in learning more about vital signs? Take a look at the health courses offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy or follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog. You can also visit us on Facebook or Twitter for more information on healthcare.

Interested in a  little self-care? Purchase scented candles and soaps through Avidity Medical SCENTations to pamper your skin and rejuvenate your mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional health.

More Tips to Help You Improve Your *Medical* Memory (Part 2)

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Nothing is ever achieved overnight when it comes to practicing, teaching, or learning in the medical field.

Imagine standing in front of your instructor on the day of your check-offs and your mind goes blank. Lucky for you, you memorized a shortcut to the procedure, closed your eyes, repeated it, and with confidence, you performed the task flawlessly. How did you get there? Here are 10 more ideas that can help, whether you are a healthcare student, a healthcare teacher, or you just want to improve your medical memory in other areas of your life. Improving your medical memory is important and can be incorporated into all areas of your life. We discussed 10 tips for improving your medical memory in Part 1. Now let’s look at 10 additional ways to improve your medical memory.

Know your learning style

The most basic step to learning how to have a perfect recall of the steps to your procedure is knowing how you learn. Are you tactile, auditory, or visual? Tactile learners need to write it down, make a model, or complete repetitive tasks to memorize topics. Auditory learners can listen to repetitive speech to understand their tasks. Visual learners use writings, graphs, charts, and other images to retain their information.

Rinse and Repeat

Unfortunately, one of the best ways for medical students to learn a procedure is to repeat it. As previously discussed in Part 1, this means either practicing the actual procedure, watching it done over and over, or listening to dictation to accomplish memorization. It takes some time to retain knowledge in long-term memory, and so must be done frequently and correctly.

Remember to Use Mnemonics

If you are an instructor, you can sometimes have an occasional lapse in memory when teaching. Luckily, you can improve your memory by teaching mnemonics to your students. For example, if you are a teacher, you can teach your students the ABCs of CPR. The ABCs of CPR are: Airway- Breathing- Circulation. If you are a student, this mnemonic is easy to remember and simple to recall.

Cheat Sheets

Your surgeon, before performing more complex procedures, reviews the procedures and how to perform them. Even the higher-level medical professional could use a written reminder, procedure book, or mental breakdown of procedures before performing them to enhance memory recall.

Rest

Not everything has to do with learning. Your brain will not retain all the information your medical career needs to be able to regurgitate without the proper care. Resting your brain allows it time to transfer the short-term cram session into long-term memory.

Don’t cram!

You will not do your brain any favors by not studying daily, doing repetitions, and learning everything you need to know just before the appointed time. Yes, you will be able to remember some things, but it will not be retained in your long-term memory and once you forget it- it is gone.

Teach others

Ironically, the best way to learn and retain medical knowledge is to teach it. A nurse may learn a better way to insert an IV when the student she observes performed the task slightly differently than the way she was instructed. This is an example of a “teachable moment” when mastering medical memorization techniques.

Take time to research

The more you know about a subject, the more your brain connects the dots and the easier it is to recall what you have learned. Find ways to make boring topics interesting, and your memory recall will improve.

Associate your medical topics with non-medical topics

If you are a tactile learner, you may make a routine out of a procedure. Once repeated, most of it becomes muscle memory. If you memorize by association, lab values can be associated with baking times, for example. Associating certain songs with a medical topic can help you remember medical information. For example, you could use a song rhythm to keep the beat when practicing CPR techniques.

Take the time to learn

Nothing is ever achieved overnight when it comes to practicing, teaching, or learning in the medical field. Even though everything is fast-paced, you need to take the time to learn and memorize your chosen tricks.

Learn your style, use the tricks and tips your instructor provides, or remember to review materials regularly before performing tasks. Follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog to learn more about many different areas of healthcare. Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to enroll in a healthcare course to help you continue to broaden your fund of knowledge about many different healthcare subjects that you can use in everyday living.

10 Things You Can Do To Improve Your *Medical* Memory Today (Part 1)

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Memory is a skill that is improved upon over time.

Our brains are capable of incredible things, but it doesn’t feel like it when we struggle with memory. Forgetting a name or where your put your car keys is a common annoyance most people accept as normal. However, the inability to recall certain information can harm a person’s education or career. In the medical world, it can harm lives. Here are 10 things you can do to improve your medical memory. These tips might only be used to pass an exam or recall an administrative procedure, but they could be used to save a life. 

  • Use Mnemonic Devices: A mnemonic device is an acronym, rhyme, or other cognitive hint to make memorizing things easier. You might be familiar with mnemonic devices used to memorize the musical notes on a staff or the names of the planets. FAST is a familiar medical mnemonic device to identify signs of a stroke (Face, Arm, Speech, Time).
  • Try Using Visualization: Creating a mental picture of a space can also improve memory, especially when it comes to memorizing chronological or sequential items. Choose a space that is familiar, and visualize those items in that space as you walk through the room. Recall that space and the items when needed to improve recollection. 
  • Repeat Often: There are reasons many of us had to memorize simple addition or multiplication tables. Repetition helps to cement memories. It takes time and isn’t always the most efficient way to recall items, but it works. 
  • Apply What You Learn: You may have studied for hours, but remembering how to actually do something sometimes requires experience. This rings true even for medical coding or administrative tasks that are less experiential and more data-driven. Once you use information, your brain prioritizes it as worthy of remembering. 
  • Practice Using Your Memory in Different Situations: If you look at the winners of memory championships, they are never first-time contestants. This is because remembering things does not rely solely on natural ability. It is a skill that is improved upon over time. 
  • Enhance Your Auxiliary Knowledge: When you are new to a subject, information seems overwhelming and out-of-reach. While it is crucial to focus on the fundamentals when learning, some auxiliary knowledge can spark interest and create relevance. When it comes to medical memory, case studies can enhance auxiliary knowledge. 
  • Use Your Senses: Many people say smell is strongly correlated with memory, and most people anecdotally agree with this thought. Anything that you can do to engage more senses (i.e. reading, watching, and speaking) will improve your medical memory. Take notes. Read your notes aloud. Watch lectures. It will all help. 
  • Eat a Healthy Diet: Many foods and beverages contain chemicals that are toxins to the brain, so eat a healthy diet. Drink lots of water. Your gut feeds your mind, so a healthy diet will improve memory. 
  • Get a Good Night’s Sleep: If you don’t get enough sleep, your neurons won’t work properly. This means your memory function will diminish. Instead of cramming the night before a test or important workday, go to bed early. You will perform better. 
  • Don’t Procrastinate: Don’t wait until the last minute to memorize something important. The stress involved in last-minute cramming limits the brain’s ability to retain information. Instead, work on memorizing information consistently. Not only will you get better at it, but you’ll have time to commit it to long-term memory. 

Improve Your Medical Memory with Additional Practice

The medical field is one filled with a ton of information, and it is impossible to remember it all. That is why you see experienced medical professionals searching through reference materials. This is not to mention the constant barrage of new information. Using the tips above, you can improve your medical memory and remember the things that are essential to do your job in a way that is efficient, correct, and safe. Follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog for more healthcare tips that you can use in everyday living. Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to enroll in an online healthcare course to learn even more about the field.

3 Ways in Which COVID-19 Impacts Classroom Learning for Students

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The educational sector is one of many that were severely affected by COVID-19. Most schools in the U.S. were closed throughout 2020, and many institutions shifted to online education. As we enter 2021, schools are expected to open and classroom learning will definitely resume. With this in mind, it is important to understand how students will be affected as they re-adjust to learning in the classroom in 2021.

Returning to Classroom Learning in 2021

As noted by UNESCO, COVID-19 might take a long time to contain, and everyone is learning how to live with it. In this context, schools must be ready to resume in-person learning, in spite of the pandemic.

If you are a student, returning to school in the middle of dealing with the pandemic comes with numerous challenges. Everything will be different. As highlighted by Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez during the ABCs of Back to School, the virus has not yet died. Everyone, including teachers and students, must adjust to the new school routines necessitated by the need to reduce the spread of the pandemic.

Let’s take a look at the different ways that COVID-19 will impact you, if you are a student returning to the classroom, or if you are a parent of a student returning to classroom learning.

Mandatory Mask-Wearing

Wearing a mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has become the norm in every area of the society, and the classroom is no exception. As noted by the University of California San Francisco in a recent article, masks significantly block respiratory droplets. As a result, students may be required to always wear a face mask during classroom learning. Wearing a face mask in the classroom presents its own special set of challenges, especially if you are a student.

These challenges include:

  • Wearing masks the right way.
  • Remembering to keep your mask on throughout the day.
  • Finding a comfortable mask that does not affect your ability to concentrate during class.
  • Wearing a mask that doesn’t hinder conversations with other students in the classroom.
  • Adjusting to wearing a mask when the temperature makes the classroom warmer than usual.

Social Distancing

Social distancing presents one of the biggest challenges in the classroom. Remembering to maintain a one-meter distance from your best friend in the classroom, remembering not to whisper about school events, and remembering not to have discussions face to face in close proximity, represent some of the biggest challenges in terms of social distancing.

When you are excited about a discussion or an event, it is hard to remember to social distance. You may find yourself getting too close to other classmates without even realizing it. Try substituting conversation with hand gestures and visual class signals to maintain social distancing.

While adjusting to social distancing requirements in the classroom, group discussions may become a thing of the past. As noted by Understood, peer-to-peer teaching education may also not be possible, and your teachers may not be able to provide the same level of personalized attention that you may have become accustomed to, especially when you’re having trouble understanding a difficult lesson concept. Remember that teachers must practice social distancing in the classroom also, so do your best to adapt to different methods of teaching that your instructor might choose to incorporate into the classroom, to meet the requirements of social distancing.

The New Role of Teachers

Teaching while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines in the classroom presents it’s only set of unique circumstances. As a student trying to adapt to the “new normal,” don’t be surprised to see your teachers take on extra roles and responsibilities, which may extend beyond teaching and handing out assignments.

Teachers may, for example, take on the task of ensuring that all students wear masks and maintain social distancing, while simultaneously trying to keep you and your classmates motivated to learn. Do your best to focus and concentrate during class time, as your teacher adapts to the changing educational landscape in the world of COVID-19.

To increase your concentration span, your teachers may need to introduce physical activities while still maintaining social distance, or they might incorporate additional mental breaks into class time to help you re-energize your mind in order to stay focused on the lesson. You might see your teacher using learning aids and and audiovisual learning devices to help you and your classmates maintain mental clarity throughout the school day.

Learning Will Continue

Despite the issues brought about by the COVID-19, learning will continue, whether it is online or in person. Avidity Medical Design Academy also gives you the opportunity to learn something new, especially if you are learning online. Enroll in the course entitled, “How to Learn in the Healthcare Classroom (and ANY Classroom) (in 10 EASY Steps!)” to learn some strategies to keep learning, stay focused, improve your concentration, and stay on track with completing your assignments during this difficult time. Visit http://avidtiymedicaldesignacademy.com to learn more about our course offerings. Follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog to stay up to date on the latest news in healthcare education.

3 Ways School Administrators Can Adjust Classroom Learning to COVID-19 Restrictions

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School administrators, principals, and other stakeholders will now consider building a more resilient learning and assessment system following the impacts of COVID-19. Building a system suited to supporting decision-making, including resource allocation, will help your school handle future shocks and succeed in the classroom learning recovery process.

Student Examination and Certification

Adjusting high-stake examinations that are used for the certification of students as they proceed to the next level of education is one of the critical areas that you will need to address. As schools reopen for classroom learning, a large-scale assessment system is needed to address the new challenges in examination and certification caused by the pandemic.

Hybrid Online/Classroom Learning System

Adopting a hybrid model of learning is one way you can keep social distance and minimize the spread of the virus. Some students can learn from home, while others can participate in classroom learning in small numbers. Make sure that the groups of students do not mix as they attend their classes.

Regular Cleaning 

Maintaining a clean environment is critical to learning in a safe environment. You will need to ensure that frequently-touched surfaces like door handles, sinks, and playground equipment are regularly cleaned. Also, classrooms will need regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces. 

Upgrading of the school ventilation like the HVAC system improves air circulation. You will need to remind students participating in classroom learning to carry supplies like masks, sanitizers, and wipes to improve hygiene standards and not to share objects. You can also have extra masks and hand sanitizers in school.

Making adequate preparations to ensure that students learn in a safe environment will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders. Learning in a healthy space gives every student the peace of mind they need to excel in their studies. To learn more about health safety in school, enroll in the course that will educate you about “Learning in the Healthcare-Classroom (and ANY Other Classroom) (in Ten-Easy-Steps!)” The course is offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy. 

What You Need to Know About Approved COVID-19 Medications

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With the arrival of COVID-19, hospitals and medical offices have seen an influx of patients. Medical administrators have also had to implement new policies and procedures to keep track of COVID-19 cases, protect doctors and nurses, and safeguard their patients as much as possible. For this reason, it is important to learn about the different COVID-19 medications that are being used today, and how they work to fight the infection.

Approved COVID-19 Medications

The following is a list of six medications that have all been approved to treat COVID-19. Each medication, however, is used to treat patients under specific circumstances. Let’s take a look at each of these medications, and how they are being used to treat COVID-19.

Remdesivir

You may have heard about remdesivir on the news. This antiviral drug has been used to treat malaria for years. Now, it is being used as a successful treatment for COVID-19, primarily for patients on supplemental oxygen. It interrupts the production of the COVID-19 virus and shortens the overall duration.

Baricitinib

When used in conjunction with remdesivir, baricitinib from Eli Lilly shortens the lifespan of COVID-19. Barcitinib was originally created to treat moderate-to-severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis. It blocks enzymes that cause inflammation and is only being used to treat patients receiving oxygen. It does not appear to be a successful treatment unless it is used in conjunction with remdesivir.

Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that has been around for many years. It treats inflammation and acts as an immunosuppressant. This COVID-19 medication can potentially reduce mortality rates associated with the COVID-19. It mitigates the impact of the virus on the lungs and has led to lower mortality rates.

Convalescent Plasma

Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 have donated plasma. This is because their recovered plasma can be used to help other patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. It can both shorten the duration and lessen the severity of the virus by boosting the body’s immune response. The infusion takes about two hours and patients need to be closely monitored afterward.

ExoFlo

If you know someone who has acute respiratory distress, ExoFlo could be the answer. It is created from human bone marrow stem cells and triggers the body to reduce inflammation. This, in turn, helps the body begin to heal itself. It has been shown to reduce the mortality rate for patients with respiratory complications.

Monoclonal Antibodies

These antibodies fight COVID-19 by clinging to the virus and destroying it. It is commonly referred to as the Regeneron antibody cocktail, although both Eli Lilly and Regeneron currently make the antibodies that are being used as treatment. It is not recommended for patients who are receiving supplemental oxygen or are on a ventilator, as their condition could worsen.

More is being learned about COVID-19 medications every day, and as a result, we are seeing more medical breakthroughs. Promote healthy habits such as hand washing and social distancing. If you know someone who has COVID-19, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, encourage them to seek medical advice, because there are multiple treatment options available.

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