HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection

Outcomes of studying the HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection:

• Recognise and assess potential risk 
• Identify situations requiring emergency or first aid response 
• Respond to client reactions and complications

The unit HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection describes the skills and knowledge required to recognise client risk factors, identify emergency situations and provide emergency or first aid response to client reactions associated with pathology specimen collection.

This unit applies to any individual for whom pathology collection is part of the job role. They may be working in collection centres, in hospitals or in other health care environments.

Elements and performance criteria for this Study Unit:

Assessment Requirements for HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection:

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• assessed and recognised potential clinical risks from review of information from at least 3 different clients
• recognised adverse reactions and complications and followed required procedures in response to at least 3 different adverse events
• recognised adverse reactions and complications requiring first aid response and provided first aid according to procedures for all of the following:
  • fainting
  • fitting
  • arterial puncture
  • nerve damage
  • bruising
  • excessive or prolonged bleeding
  • diabetic emergency
  • falls
  • grazes
  • scarring and burns
  • vomiting

Knowledge Evidence for HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for emergency response, and how these are applied in organisations:
  • duty of care
  • informed consent
  • privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
  • records management
  • work role boundaries:
    • scope and limitations of own role in assessing clinical risk
    • points of referral for risk situations beyond scope of own role
  • work health and safety
• standard infection control requirements for clinical procedures:
  • hand hygiene
  • use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • avoiding contact with bodily fluids
  • sharps injury prevention and treatment if sustained
  • waste disposal
• client information that may inform assessment of risk:
  • clinical history
  • allergies
  • current and recent medications
  • recent illnesses
  • reactions/complications to previous collection procedures
• anatomy and physiology relevant to pathology collections:
  • vascular and nervous systems, particularly the close association of blood vessels and nerves of the limbs relevant to pathology collection
  • arteries, veins and capillaries
  • heart function – significant structures, greater blood vessels that enter and exit the heart
  • direction of flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood through the heart and lungs
  • features of collection sites
• types and features of clinical risks commonly associated with pathology collection:
  • reactions and complications to procedure
  • infection
  • hemoconcentration
  • haemolysis
  • blood components
  • sharps injury
  • excessive bleeding
  • damage to nervous system
  • vascular damage
  • location of venous access
  • concurrent treatments and therapy
  • intravenous (IV) therapy
• emergency procedures for client reactions and complications
• first aid and care protocols for:
  • fainting
  • fitting
  • arterial puncture
  • nerve damage
  • bruising
  • excessive bleeding
  • diabetic emergency
  • falls
  • grazes
  • scarring and burns

Assessment Conditions for HLTPAT001 – Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection:

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including documented emergency and first aid procedures for the candidate to follow
• modelling of industry operating conditions, including presence of situations requiring problem solving

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.