5.3 Patient Assessment

In Body Interact, the Physical Examination menu adapts to the simulation environment. This ensures the assessment method aligns with the clinical setting:

• Critical Environments: In settings like the Emergency Room or Ambulance, the ABCDE approach is used for systematic patient assessment and treatment.
• Non-Emergency Environments: In chronic and non-emergency settings like the Consultation Room, the Head-to-Toe approach is applied for a more comprehensive examination.

ABCDE Approach

The ABCDE mnemonic stands for Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure. This method helps users prioritize life-threatening conditions and stabilize the patient. Each category includes different evaluation options:

• Airway: Airway observation
• Breathing: Chest palpation, Chest percussion, Pulmonary auscultation
• Circulation: Capillary refill time, Heart auscultation, Pulse palpation
• Disability: Glasgow Coma Scale, Pupil light reflex
• Exposure: Abdominal auscultation, palpation, and percussion

Head-to-Toe Approach

In non-critical settings, the Head-to-Toe examination allows for a detailed assessment of the patient’s overall condition. This approach covers:

• Integumentary: Skin Inspection
• Head/Neck: HEENT test and Neck palpation
• Respiratory: Chest Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
• Breast and Lymphatic: Breast and nodes palpation
• Cardiovascular: Capillary refill time, Heart auscultation, Pulse palpation
• Gastrointestinal: Abdominal auscultation, palpation, and percussion
• Peripheral Vascular: Arterial pulses and Extremities to touch
• Genitourinary and Reproductive: Genitourinary examination and Renal Palpation
• Nervous: Neurological examination
• Musculoskeletal: Limbs examination; Orthopedic assessment tests

When performing any physical examination, pay close attention to both visual signs and sounds within the simulation. Ensure your device’s sound is turned on for an accurate assessment.