Question

A patient with Parkinson's comes in for an ECG with noticeably severe tremors. Which of the following should the medical assistant do to ensure a proper reading?

A. Ask the patient to remain calm.
B. Have the patient slide their hands under their buttocks.
C. Have the patient grasp the side of the table.
D. Move the patient into the semi-fowlers position to ease breathing.

Answer 1

To obtain an accurate ECG from a patient with Parkinson's disease and severe tremors, the medical assistant should have the patient slide their hands under their buttocks to minimize tremors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Assisting a Patient with Parkinson's During an ECG

To ensure a proper ECG reading for a patient with Parkinson's disease exhibiting severe tremors, the medical assistant should have the patient slide their hands under their buttocks. This position can help stabilize the arms and minimize the effect of tremors on the ECG results. Additionally, instructing a patient to remain calm can be helpful, but it is often not sufficient to control tremor-related artifact on the ECG. Having the patient grasp the side of the table may not provide the necessary stability, and moving the patient into the semi-fowlers position is more related to ease of breathing than tremor control.