Page 310 - Orthopedic Casts and Splints2

Performance Steps

28. Give patient verbal and written instructions on cast care.
a. Instruct the patient to call the cast clinic should they have any concerns or questions
regarding their cast . Provide patient with a copy of the clinic hours and telephone number.
After duty hours instruct patient to report to Emergency Room (ER).
b. Present patient with cast care booklet( or written instructions).
c. Instruct patient to elevated the extremity above the heart , extend, flex and wiggle
fingers(demonstrate for patient) to reduce swelling.
d. Instruct patient not to stick anything down the cast, do not remove the cast and do not alter
the cast( e.g. writing on it, coloring.)

29. Fit sling to patient as required.
NOTE: Consideration for applying a sling include elderly patient's, severity of fractures (e.g. Colles',
Smith's, Bennett's), patient's comfort, physician's or technician's preference.

30. Annotate the procedure applied to patient in medical record or SF 513.
NOTE: Record the procedure applied and cast care instruction provided to patient in medical record or
Standard Form 513 and sign your name.
31. Escort patient or direct patient to front desk to make a follow up appointment.

Performance Measures GO NO GO
1. Received the order from the physician(reviewed if in writing) —— ——

2. Identified yourself to the patient. —— ——
3. Explained the procedure to the patient —— ——

4. Inspected patient's arms. —— ——
5. Checked capillary refill of patient's hands/fingers. —— ——

6. Gathered equipment. —— ——
7. Assembled materials. —— ——
8. Prepared stockinette. —— ——

9. Prepared plaster reinforcement splint for the dorsal and volar aspects of the —— ——
cast.

10. Applied stockinette to patient's injured arm. —— ——
11. Measured patient's injured wrist and phalanges with goniometer. —— ——

12. Applied cast padding( webril) to injured phalanges, wrist and forearm. —— ——
13. Prepared casting materials. —— ——
14. Placed fiberglass casting gloves on hands. —— ——

15. Opened fiberglass casting package. —— ——
16. Applied 1st plaster/fiberglass roll. —— ——

17. Laminated the casting material. —— ——
18. Applied reinforcement splint to volar/dorsal aspect of cast. —— ——

19. Applied 2nd plaster/fiberglass roll. —— ——

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