MEDICINE/PHYSICIAN

Have the speaker address these topics:

• Overview of roles and duties of physicians, nurses, and physician assistants and the differences between them
• Training path of physicians, with an emphasis on high school and college requirements
• A typical day for a physician

• Watch “Physical Exam: Introduction and Vital Signs” (from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and address any participant questions.
• Provide a brief overview of a basic physical exam with an emphasis on vital signs.
• Give a basic physical exam—check a pulse, measure blood pressure, listen to heart and lung sounds, and check pupil reactivity and reflexes (this may be optional depending upon the facility and access to equipment).
• Show “Blood Pressure Basics: Audio-Visual Coordination Skills” from AlliedHealthToolsLLC or “Instructional Video for Measuring Blood Pressure CNA Skill” from 4yourCNA and address any participant questions.
• Show “Lung Sounds—Rales, Rhonchi, Wheezes” from TheLungSounds or “Assessing Lung Sounds: EMS Paramedic Skills” from EMSSEO.com and address any participant questions.
• Show “Heart Murmurs: Normal Heart Sounds” from iMedicalSchool and/or “Basic Heart Exam With Sounds” from Med School Made Easy and address any participant questions.
• Show “How to Examine Normal Pupils” from Sam Tapsell and/or “Pupil Exam” from Dalhousie University and address any participant questions.
• Show “Lower Extremity Reflexes” from MSK Medicine or “Deep Tendon Reflexes” from Standard School of Medicine and address any participant questions.

VITAL SIGNS AND BRIEF PHYSICAL EXAM

• Divide participants into groups of four or fewer.
• Instruct participants, after obtaining permission from their fellow group members, to take blood pressure and pulse, listen to heart sounds, and check pupil reaction on each other.
• All examinations must be done with clothing on; there may be no exams under clothing.
• Trained adult leaders must be provided for each group during this activity.

ADVISOR NOTE

This must be a voluntary process. If a participant objects or feels uncomfortable with the vital sign or exam portion, he or she must be allowed to opt out of the activity. Please review and adhere to any youth protection policies.

• Show “Suture–Basic Technique 1” from Stephen Cady and “Basic Suturing Techniques” from the Division of Emergency Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa, and address any participant questions.
• Demonstrate a simple interrupted suture (optional).
  •  Emphasize and demonstrate all safety measures including personal protective equipment and proper needle and scissor techniques.
  •  Explain sterile technique and why preparing the area and a sterile environment is not necessary for this exercise.
  •  Focus on grabbing the needle, placing one stitch, and tying.
  •  Briefly discussing skin layers, depth, technique, etc., for this activity is not necessarily required.

BASIC SUTURING TECHNIQUE

• Divide participants into pairs or singles.
• Provide each pair or single with a suture setup.
• Demonstrate a single interrupted suture step by step for the group as each participant follows along and sutures simultaneously.
• Provide 10 to 15 minutes for participants to practice suturing.
• Dispose of supplies properly.

ADVISOR NOTES

Properly trained adult leaders must be present for monitoring each participant during this optional suturing activity. There must be strict adherence to safety and personal protection equipment guidelines.

Activities 2 and 3 may be difficult to complete in one session.

• Tour a physician’s office or clinic.