Assisting in Pulmonary and Cardiology Medicine and Performing EKGs: Professionalism Assignment Predict the outcome from this scenario and validate the course of action. Identify unprofessional behavior and establish preventive measures.

A male medical assistant volunteered to perform an EKG on an 18-year-old female. The parents of the patient remained in the waiting room area and no other staff attendees were in the exam room assisting the MA. The patient was instructed to remove her clothing from the waist up and was not given a drape to cover herself. He explained that “modesty” does not apply in healthcare or medicine. The patient appeared to be nervous but under the impression that this was normal practice for an EKG.

Precordial electrodes were placed correctly and a tracing was initiated in an air conditioned room. Although the patient was anxious, she now was cold and started shivering. Somatic tremor artifacts were indicated and present on the EKG tracing. The artifacts were not resolved, corrected, or prevented. The MA dismissed the patient and forwarded the tracing for its interpretation to the provider.