Unit 1: Accommodating Special Healthcare Needs

Course Objectives
  1. Classify what special healthcare needs are
  2. Develop key soft skills essential for working with special healthcare populations
  3. Identify the various ways to accommodate those with special healthcare needs
  4. Outline strategies to create a successful venipuncture while accommodating those special healthcare needs
Course Content
Course Creator: Nichelle Volker RMA
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour 
Pace Course #: 586-2613-26

Key Terms:
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Dementia
  • Phobia
  • Soft Skills
  • Tremor(s)
Outline:
  • What are Special Healthcare Needs Populations
  • Key Soft Skills for the Phlebotomist
    • Communication
      • Verbal
      •  Non-verbal
      •  Active listening
      •  Simple language
      •  Empathy and compassion
      •  Patience
      •  Attention to detail
      •  Flexibility/ adaptability
      •  Problem-solving 
        • Creativity
        •  Special Healthcare needs populations
          • Pediatric patients
            • Capillary puncture
            •  Venipuncture
            •  Challenges 
            • Accommodations
          •  Elderly patients
            •  Vein access or procedure risks
            •  Mental or physical health challenges
            •  Accommodations
          •  Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
            •  ASD background
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Bleeding Disorders
            •  Hemophilia
            •  Von Willebrands Disease
            •  Thrombocytopenia
            •  Challenges
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Chronic Illnesses
            •  Infection risk
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Mental health Conditions or Phobias
            •  Trypanophobia
            •  Anxiety
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients Taking Blood Thinners
            •  Anticoagulants
            •  Accommodations 
          • Obese Patients 
            • Adipose tissue
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Vein Access Issues
            •  Collapsing veins and scarring
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Communication Barriers
            •  Language
          •  Hearing impaired or deaf
            •  How to use an interpreter
            •  Accommodations
          •  Patients with Movement Disorders
            •  Tremors
            •  Tourette Syndrome
            •  Parkinson’s Disease
            •  Challenges 
            • Accommodations
 
References: 
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