Pediatric Assessment (Infant)

Medical Assisting

A pediatric assessment is carried out as part of a well-child visit to determine growth and developmental patterns, and assists in identifying congenital problems, abnormalities, and disorders. This module provides a detailed introduction to the process of conducting a pediatric assessment, covering how to safely assess the head circumference, weight and length measurements in infants. Including both Learn and Test modes, the online simulator offers three different scenarios that test your ability to perform a pediatric assessment. Practice the steps of the procedure as often as you want until you are confident. This module is based on the entry-level competencies for which the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) test the Medical Assistant.

You’ll learn

key medical terminology
how to safely assess and record the head circumference, weight, and length measurement of an infant
to practice and perfect your skills in performing a pediatric assessment
the purpose of growth charts and how to plot measurements
to visualize the key anatomical structures used during pediatric assessment - including external landmarks of the head, and details of the pediatric skeleton - with our 3D anatomy model
effective ways to interact with infants and parents/caregivers
much more (see Content Details for more specific information)

Introduction

Step 1 - Preparation

Step 1.1 - Equipment preparation

Step 1.2 - Medical assistant preparation

Step 1.3 - Patient preparation

Step 2 - Measure the infant’s head circumference

Step 3 - Measure the infant’s weight

Step 3.1 - Using a balance scale

Step 3.2 - Using an electronic scale

Step 4 - Measure the infant’s length

Step 4.1 - Using a pediatric measuring table or mat

Step 4.2 - Using the examination table

Step 5 - Complete the procedure

Describe pre-procedure considerations related to this procedure.
Describe and demonstrate the preparation for this procedure.
Describe and demonstrate approaches for interacting with the infant and the parent/caregiver.
Describe and demonstrate how to measure an infant's head circumference, length, and weight accurately.
Describe growth charts and their purpose.
Understand and apply Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
Understand correct post-procedure considerations.
Define and demonstrate correct documentation and plotting on growth charts.
Describe and demonstrate how to convert imperial to metric measurements and vice-versa.
Define and use related medical terminology.
Explain the Patient Privacy Rule (HIPAA), Patient Safety Act, and Patients' Bill of Rights.

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long