When performing a secondary assessment, what should an OEC technician primarily focus on?

During a secondary assessment, the primary focus of an OEC technician is to gather additional information that can help support a more accurate diagnosis of the patient's condition. This involves performing a thorough examination of the patient to identify any secondary injuries or conditions that may not have been immediately apparent during the primary assessment, where the focus is on life-threatening issues.

The secondary assessment allows the technician to delve deeper into the patient’s medical history, obtain a detailed symptom description, assess vital signs, and conduct a head-to-toe examination. This comprehensive approach is crucial for recognizing potential complications and planning the next steps in patient care.

While engaging family members, identifying and treating immediate threats, or planning evacuation strategies are important aspects of patient management in other contexts, they are not the primary focus during the secondary assessment phase. This phase is specifically designed to ensure that all relevant information about the patient's condition is gathered, facilitating effective treatment and decision making moving forward.