Question

If you have a client with intellectual/developmental disabilities who also have a receptive or Expressive language, what are ways you can determine that medication they have been administered are working/ the client conditions are improving?

Answer 1

Response to treatment can be assessed in the following ways:

1. Asking the caretaker of the patient
   1. The healthcare worker can ask the caretaker if the patient is showing signs of improvement.
   2. This can be in the form of reduction symptom ( fever, cough)
   3. Improvement in appetite.
2. Assessing objective parameter.
   1. The healthcare worker can measure the patient's vital signs and compare them with baseline values.
   2. These vital signs include - pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature.
   3. Reduction in fever, reduced tachycardia and breathlessness.
   4. Improvement in oxygen saturation.
3. Assessing the patient's lab parameters.
   1. The healthcare worker can repeat the patient's blood reports after treatment.
   2. Improvement in white blood count, serum creatinine
   3. Reduction in the CRP levels, procalcitonin levels.
   4. These parameters will provide a more objective assessment of patient's condition
4. Repeating radiological investigation
   1. Repeating radiological investigation specific to the organ system.
   2. Example - Chest xray, MRI brain.
   3. These investigation should be compared to the baseline investigation so look for improvement.