Final answer:
Healthcare professionals use a pulse oximeter to non-invasively measure the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin and arterial blood gas analysis to assess oxygen levels and other related measurements such as blood pH and CO2 directly.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how well a patient is oxygenating, healthcare providers use several assessments. One of the primary tools is a pulse oximeter, which non-invasively measures the percent saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen, with readings normally ranging from 95-100 percent. The device sends two different wavelengths of light through a thin body part like a fingertip and measures the light with a photodetector to calculate this value. Additionally, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is a more invasive but direct method to measure oxygenation, including the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the blood, alongside other critical values like blood pH, pCO2, and bicarbonate (HCO3) levels. These assessments can diagnose conditions like hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) and hypoxia, indicate metabolic or respiratory imbalances, and are also used to evaluate a patient's metabolic rate.