HLHS 105 CH 6
Physicians may drop their ________ ________ if the premiums get too high.
liability insurance
An employee may be held ________ if he or she knowingly remains silent to protect a physician who has performed an illegal act.
liable
In regard to charting, documentation is ________ of what was done.
proof
What type of defense is based on legal technicalities instead of factual evidence? Multiple choice question. -Denial -Affirmative -Comparative negligence -Technical
-Technical
Which of the following is NOT one of the components of competence? Multiple Choice -Working within your scope of practice -Avoiding actions that you are not equipped to handle -Following standards of care for your profession -All of these are components of competence.
-All of these are components of competence.
Who can sign an informed-consent form? Multiple select question. -An authorized representative -The patient -Any family member -A minor
-An authorized representative -The patient
Which of the following identifies problem practices and avoid litigation? Multiple choice question. -Providing vague direction in a policy and procedure manual -Providing an organizational assessment -Employee surveys -Providing written job descriptions for health care practice employees
-Providing written job descriptions for health care practice employees
What position holds the primary responsibility for ensuring that federal regulations are followed? Multiple choice question. -The physician or head nurse -Office manager -The medical assistant -Quality improvement manager
-Quality improvement manager
What is the best way for a health care practitioner to deliver bad news? Multiple choice question. -Being defensive -Being straightforward -Using medical terms -Speaking slowly
-Being straightforward
Quality improvement is a method used in which of the following? Multiple choice question. -Legal defense -Professional liability insurance -Risk management -Litigation
-Risk management
According to a 2018 Medscape Report, which of these are reasons that a patient might file a lawsuit? Multiple select question. -Billing disputes -A compassionate physician -Details are missing -Desperation
-Billing disputes -Details are missing -Desperation
Which of the following is NOT one of the 4 Cs of medical malpractice prevention? Multiple Choice -Charting -Competence -Certification -Caring
-Certification
What is occurrence insurance also known as? Multiple choice question. -Trial coverage -Claims-made insurance -Self-insurance -Claims-incurred insurance
-Claims-incurred insurance
Tail coverage protects a physician when which type of policy expires? Multiple choice question. -Workers' compensation -Claims-made -Prior acts -Occurrence
-Claims-made
What is a type of liability insurance that covers the insured only for those claims made while the policy is in force? Multiple choice question. -Claims-incurred insurance -Occurrence insurance -Prior acts insurance -Claims-made insurance
-Claims-made insurance
Within certain provisions, the health care practitioner who comes to the aid of a victim in an emergency would not be held liable under __ law. Multiple choice question. -Criminal -Common -Judicial -Medical
-Common
TJC recommends confirming which of the following prior to any surgery or invasive procedure? Multiple select question. -Confirming the patient -Confirming the doctor -Confirming the place on the patient's body where surgery will occur -Confirming the operating room
-Confirming the patient -Confirming the place on the patient's body where surgery will occur
Which of the following has become a necessary practice component in health care delivery? Multiple choice question. -Quality improvement -Loss assessment -Risk management -Continuing education
-Risk management
If a health care practitioner is in doubt about what should be recorded in a patient's record, what should they do? Multiple choice question. -Contact legal authorities -Ask the patient -Ask the receptionist -Contact the office manager
-Contact legal authorities
What is liability insurance? Multiple choice question. -Contract coverage for potential damages incurred as a result of a negligent act -Insurance established by federal and state statutes that provides reimbursement for workers who are injured on the job -Insurance that pays the physician's beneficiaries when they die -Insurance that covers all or a part of medical bills
-Contract coverage for potential damages incurred as a result of a negligent act
What can happen if a physician drops liability insurance? Multiple select question. -A physician can be dropped from a hospital -A physician can be sued -A physician can lose their credentialing -A physician can lose employees
-A physician can be dropped from a hospital -A physician can lose their credentialing
Which of the following is NOT one of the actions that may potentially prevent litigation? Multiple Choice -Listening to the patient -A private hospital room -Investigation of the error -Financial compensation
-A private hospital room
A doctor would not be held liable for care given to the victim in an emergency setting if the defense established which of the below? Multiple select question. -The victim refused care at the time of the emergency -The health professional performed outside the standard of care -A true emergency situation existed and was not caused by the defendant -The appropriate standard of care was met, given the emergency situation
-A true emergency situation existed and was not caused by the defendant -The appropriate standard of care was met, given the emergency situation
A physician injects medication into the spinal cord of a patient and the patient becomes ill. The medication was contaminated by the manufacturer. The type of defense most likely to be used by the physician when a lawsuit is filed is which of the following? Multiple choice question. -Denial of wrongdoing -Release of tortfeasor -Assumption of risk -Affirmative defense
-Affirmative defense
What is a defense used by defendants in medical professional liability suits that allows the accused to present factual evidence that a patient's condition was caused by some factor other than the defendant's negligence? Multiple choice question. -Comparative negligence -Assumption of risk -Contributory negligence -Affirmative defense
-Affirmative defense
In creating a plan to manage risk, which of the following are considered? Multiple select question. -Decide which changes will create the most improvement with the least amount of effort. Implement the action -Collect data from the entire facility -Evaluate the results -Identify those areas where improvement is needed
-Decide which changes will create the most improvement with the least amount of effort. Implement the action -Evaluate the results -Identify those areas where improvement is needed
Which of the following describes denial as a defense strategy? Multiple choice question. -Declaration of innocence -Denial is the same as not guilty -Defendants do not need to defend themselves -Most of the facts are false
-Declaration of innocence
What do all physicians/employers have to do carefully with their employees? Multiple select question. -Delegate carefully -Watch at all times -Select -Supervise
-Delegate carefully -Select -Supervise
When considering claims-made insurance, when would a policy that is in force during the previous year cover claims? Multiple choice question. -The year before the policy was in force -For the year after the policy was in force -During the year the policy was in force -It would not matter as it would be when the injury occurred
-During the year the policy was in force
Based on what attributes is an employee expected to perform delegated tasks? Multiple select question. -Experience -Training -Qualifications -Job title.
-Experience -Training -Qualifications
What behavior is best practice when handling patients? Multiple select question. -Good judgment -Professionalism -Large medical terms -Tact
-Good judgment -Professionalism -Tact
What should health care workers develop so that patients feel time spent with them is not rushed? Multiple select question. -Skills on being short and to the point -Good nonverbal communication techniques -Defensive body postures -Good listening skills
-Good nonverbal communication techniques -Good listening skills
What will show a patient that a health care practitioner is caring and interested? Multiple choice question. -If he/she does not make direct eye contact and appears shy -If he/she uses defensive body postures -If he/she tells jokes rather than getting to the patient's complaint -If he/she sits rather than stands while interviewing or conversing with the patient
-If he/she sits rather than stands while interviewing or conversing with the patient
What are some of the requirements in regards to the fourth C of Medical Malpractice Prevention, Charting? Multiple choice question. -Document only what the patient wants to have documented. -Document only major diagnoses. -It is extremely important to document each and every thing a patient does. -If it isn't in writing and explained completely and accurately, it wasn't done.
-If it isn't in writing and explained completely and accurately, it wasn't done.
Should practitioners and facilities try to cover up mistakes, they could lose accreditation by which body? Multiple choice question. -FDA -NCQP -Joint Commission -American Medical Association
-Joint Commission
If a mistake is made in patient care and the health care provider is honest with the patient about the error, the patient is: Multiple Choice -Less likely to file a suit -More likely to file a suit -Almost certain to file suit -Only able to sue the hospital
-Less likely to file a suit
For an autopsy to be performed, who would typically sign the informed-consent form? Multiple select question. -Next of kin -At least three witnesses -Anyone that knows the deceased -Designated representative
-Next of kin -Designated representative
If a medical professional liability insurance policy covers a physician up to a certain established amount, in the event that the physician loses a lawsuit, what will the insurance company pay? Multiple choice question. -It would be void due to the loss in the suit -Nothing -Double indemnity -No more than the established amount
-No more than the established amount
What is the legal and ethical response when a health care mistake is made? Multiple select question. -Cover it up as quickly and quietly as possible -Note it on the patient's record -Do not inform the patient -Report the mistake to attending physicians and supervisors
-Note it on the patient's record -Report the mistake to attending physicians and supervisors
If you had made the same mistake that this laboratory tech did, what would be the first appropriate course of action? Multiple Choice -Do not tell anyone -Tell the patient -Notify your supervisor -Admit the mistake only if the patient became suspicious
-Notify your supervisor
What is a type of liability insurance that covers the insured for any claims arising from an incident that occurred or is alleged to have occurred while the policy is in force, regardless of when the claim is made? Multiple choice question. -Self-insurance coverage -Occurrence insurance -Trial coverage -Claims-made insurance
-Occurrence insurance
Which of the following activities may affect the likelihood or course of litigation in risk management? Multiple select question. -Billing services -Patient scheduling -Prescription writing -Medical record charting
-Patient scheduling -Prescription writing -Medical record charting
Which of the following are reasons that patients give when considering filing lawsuits? Multiple select question. -Patients want answers that physicians don't give -Billing disputes -Failure to follow safety procedures -Errors in medication administration
-Patients want answers that physicians don't give -Billing disputes -Failure to follow safety procedures -Errors in medication administration
Technical defenses include which of the following? Multiple select question. -Assumption of risk has occurred -Statute of limitations has run out -There was an emergency situation -Insufficient evidence exists to support negligence
-Statute of limitations has run out -Insufficient evidence exists to support negligence
What does clear documentation in a medical record demonstrate? Multiple select question. -Only urgent referrals to other physicians -A patient followed their advice -The care provided met the standards demanded by law -There was no negligence on the part of the physician
-The care provided met the standards demanded by law -There was no negligence on the part of the physician
If a lawsuit is filed against a physician, who should his/her employees speak to? Multiple select question. -The prosecution -The court -The physician's attorney -The plaintiff
-The court -The physician's attorney
What methods should a physician use to diagnose and treat a patient? Multiple select question. -The least dangerous -Investigational treatment -Immediate clinical trials -Conservative
-The least dangerous -Conservative
What is the TJC's accreditation rule about improving the accuracy of patient identification? Multiple choice question. -Use the patient's room number to help identify the patient -Use at least two forms of patient identifiers when taking or administering blood -Ask the doctor or head nurse to identify the patient -Only one form of patient identifier is needed to give a patient medication
-Use at least two forms of patient identifiers when taking or administering blood
When explaining an illness, what should a health care practitioner do? Multiple choice question. -Use medical terminology --Speak very slowly -Not make eye contact if it is bad news -Use terms the patient will understand
-Use terms the patient will understand
Which of the following is a good approach to reducing the risk of litigation for the health care worker? Multiple Choice -When administering medication, check each drug three times. -Avoid patients who you know to be difficult. -Agree with patients who complain about other health care providers so that the patient knows you don't tolerate poor quality care. -Chart everything, including if you believe another health care provider made a mistake.
-When administering medication, check each drug three times.
When should a physician seek a therapeutic course? Multiple choice question. -When they have exhausted all reasonable methods of securing a diagnosis -When they do not know what is wrong with a patient -Before sending a patient to a specialist -When the patient requests
-When they have exhausted all reasonable methods of securing a diagnosis
Important times when a physician should insist on a professional consultation include Multiple select question. -if the physician is running behind. -if the family is dissatisfied. -if the patient is happy. -if the patient is not doing well.
-if the family is dissatisfied. -if the patient is not doing well.
Ensuring that alarms are regularly maintained and tested is part of TJC's requirement to Multiple choice question. -improve quality of care. -improve communication with the fire department. -improve the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems. -eliminate wrong-site, wrong-patient, wrong-procedure surgery.
-improve the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems.
Every day, a health care practitioner should set aside time to Multiple select question. -return patients' phone calls. -make hospital rounds. -advise patients over the phone. -record information in patients' charts.
-return patients' phone calls. -advise patients over the phone. -record information in patients' charts.
Once a claims-made policy is canceled, coverage does not continue in the future for any claims that might be reported unless ________ coverage or ________ ________ coverage is secured at the time the policy is canceled.
-tail -prior acts
To improve the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems, TJC requires Multiple select question. -that the alarms are set appropriately. -that the alarms can be heard over other loud noises. -the clinic to buy new alarm systems every five years. -regular checking of the alarms.
-that the alarms are set appropriately. -that the alarms can be heard over other loud noises. -regular checking of the alarms.
-To improve the quality of communication, you should listen actively, communicate clearly, AND confirm with the patient that you have been _______________. Multiple Choice -knowledgeable in your response -licensed -timely -understood
-understood
Medical staff who answer the phone need to know Multiple select question. -when reported symptoms require the physician's immediate attention. -when a patient should see a specialist. -when a patient should seek emergency care. -when the patient is being a hypochondriac.
-when reported symptoms require the physician's immediate attention. -when a patient should seek emergency care.