Question 1

Before an incident report is admitted into evidence,the document must _____.
A) be reviewed by the plaintiff's attorney
B) comply with attorney work product privileges
C) overcome the application of privileges
D) produce desired results in a court of law

Accepted Answer

Before an incident report can be admitted into evidence, any privileges that may apply to the document (such as attorney-client, work-product, or medical privileges) must be overcome. This means that the document must be shown to be relevant and necessary to the case, and that the benefits of admitting the document outweigh any potential harm that may result from disclosure. The plaintiff's attorney does not necessarily need to review the document before it is admitted into evidence. The document does not necessarily need to produce desired results in a court of law, as its admissibility is determined by legal rules and standards, not by its outcome in a case.

Question 2

Which is an example of a sentinel event?
A) Expected reaction to administered medications.
B) Patient who reports being aware during surgery.
C) Recovery following elective open heart surgery.
D) Transfer of a patient to a tertiary care facility.

Accepted Answer

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death, serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof. In this case, the patient being aware during surgery is unexpected and could potentially result in psychological harm. The other options listed are not examples of sentinel events as they are either expected outcomes or routine procedures.

Question 3

HIPAA requires a covered entity to perform a risk analysis and implement standards to protect the institution's health information records.Which is one of those standards?
A) Definition of security measures that should be implemented and revised.
B) Documentation of the entity's actions,which are to be maintained for 6 years.
C) Specification of a step-by-step approach outlined in the HIPAA regulations.
D) Statutory requirements that health information professionals be credentialed.

Accepted Answer

HIPAA requires covered entities to maintain documentation of their policies, procedures, and actions related to the safeguarding of protected health information (PHI). This documentation must be retained for six years, which helps ensure accountability and compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Question 4

An adverse incident is defined as a(n)_____.
A) Event inconsistent with normal routine operations
B) Medication error identified through quality review
C) Unexpected event involving a visitor
D) Unintended effect of a research protocol

Accepted Answer

An adverse incident is any event that is inconsistent with normal routine operations. This can include events such as clinical errors, falls, employee injuries, and equipment failures.

Question 5

The Darling vs.Charleston Community Memorial Hospital case established the precedent that _____.
A) Abolished the doctrine of charitable immunity
B) Hospitals are not liable for provider malpractice
C) Medicaid patients cannot file negligence lawsuits
D) Profit hospitals only are liable for employee negligence

Accepted Answer

The Darling vs. Charleston Community Memorial Hospital case established the precedent that abolished the doctrine of charitable immunity, meaning that hospitals could be held liable for medical malpractice.

Question 6

The patient record documentation element that the health information manager can recommend to reduce risks to a health care facility is_____.
A) The complete documentation of a patient's condition
B) The documentation of errors as accurately as possible
C) ensuring that record entries do not interrupt patient care
D) omitting information that might result in a lawsuit

Accepted Answer

Complete documentation of a patient's condition can help reduce risks to a healthcare facility by ensuring that healthcare providers have access to all relevant information when making decisions about patient care. This can include information about a patient's medical history, medications, and previous treatments. Inaccurate or incomplete documentation can increase the risk of medical errors, which can result in harm to patients and legal liability for the healthcare facility. Therefore, ensuring that patient records are complete and accurate can help mitigate risks to the healthcare facility.

Question 7

Charitable immunity is the _____.
A) ability for a nonprofit organization to avoid litigation for malpractice
B) implementation of Good Samaritan laws in all states in the country
C) shielding of health care institutions from liability for employee negligence
D) way a health care facility manages its quality management programs

Accepted Answer

The answer of Charitable immunity is the _____.
A) ability for...

Question 8

For which situation would an incident report be generated?
A) Decrease in blood pressure following a surgical procedure.
B) Loss of a provider's parking spot to a hospital employee.
C) Routine repair and maintenance of medical equipment.
D) Visitor who slips and falls,but that results in no injury.

Accepted Answer

An incident report would be generated for the visitor who slips and falls, even if no injury resulted. This is because it is a safety issue and could potentially lead to further incidents or lawsuits. The other options do not require an incident report, as they are either routine maintenance or do not pose any immediate harm or danger.

Question 9

Which data mining technique associated with the electronic health record enhances security and reduces patient risk?
A) Education of employees and providers about searches.
B) Identification of inconsistent patient record entries.
C) Prevention of unauthorized access of sensitive information.
D) Use of tracking software to locate breaches of confidentiality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which data mining technique associated with the...

Question 10

To protect an incident report from discovery,_____.
A) It needs to be part of the patient's permanent medical record
B) Payers are required to have previously reviewed the incident report
C) There must be an established attorney-client relationship
D) Using the report during employee training and review is necessary

Accepted Answer

Establishing an attorney-client relationship can protect the incident report from discovery under attorney-client privilege. This means the contents of the report can be kept confidential between the healthcare provider and their attorney. The other options provided are not relevant to protecting the incident report from discovery.

Question 11

Which is characteristic of an incident report?
A) Documents circumstances to assess for the possibility of impending litigation.
B) Guarantees that facility malpractice insurance premiums will be reasonable.
C) Provides a method of defense against liability for actions of facility employees.
D) Serves as a way to discipline the health care provider who perpetrated an error.

Accepted Answer

Incident reports are used to document the circumstances surrounding an unexpected event or medical error. This information can be used to assess for the possibility of impending litigation and may be used as evidence in a legal case.

Answer: C
 Incident reports can provide a method of defense against liability for actions of facility employees. By documenting the event and following up with appropriate actions, it can demonstrate that the facility took steps to prevent the error from happening again and acted in a responsible manner.

Option B and D are not appropriate choices as incident reports do not guarantee insurance premiums or serve as a means to discipline healthcare providers.

Question 12

What is the most important way to reduce an organization's risk due to loss or litigation?
A) audit trails
B) maintenance of electronic records
C) proper documentation
D) quality reviews

Accepted Answer

Proper documentation is the most important way to reduce an organization's risk of loss or litigation. Thorough documentation can provide evidence of compliance, adherence to procedures, and communication among stakeholders. This can help protect the organization if legal action arises, and can also facilitate internal audits and quality reviews. While audit trails, maintenance of electronic records, and quality reviews are important risk management strategies, they are complementary to, rather than substitutes for, proper documentation.

Question 13

Which is a legal consideration that applies to the retention of health care records?
A) Available storage and methods of destruction.
B) Decision made by the health information committee.
C) Length of time required by statute and regulation.
D) Policy established by the health care institution.

Accepted Answer

The legal consideration that applies to the retention of health care records is the length of time required by statute and regulation. Different laws and regulations require different lengths of time for retaining health care records, and health care institutions must abide by these requirements to avoid legal consequences such as fines or loss of accreditation. Therefore, Choice C is the best answer. Choices A, B, and D are other factors that may also need to be considered in record retention, but they are not the primary legal considerations.

Question 14

If an incident report is inadvertently released during the discovery process along with the medical record,_____ applies.
A) attorney work product privilege
B) Behringer Estate v.Medical Center at Princeton
C) business record exceptions
D) Federal Rule of Evidence 502

Accepted Answer

Federal Rule of Evidence 502 addresses the inadvertent disclosure of privileged information, including incident reports, during the discovery process. It provides protections and procedures for handling such disclosures.

Question 15

Which incident would be reported to the risk manager?
A) A patient's visitor getting lost on the way to the hospital.
B) Intravenous therapy resulting in reduced infections.
C) A patient refusing to consent for an elective procedure.
D) Surgical procedure performed on the wrong site.

Accepted Answer

Surgical procedures performed on the wrong site is a serious patient safety incident and would need to be reported to the risk manager. This type of error is known as a "never event" and hospitals are required to report it to regulatory agencies. A patient's visitor getting lost or a patient refusing a procedure are not reportable incidents. Intravenous therapy resulting in reduced infections is a positive outcome and also not a reportable incident.

Question 16

An incident report _____.
A) Is always discoverable as part of the official malpractice litigation process
B) May help determine patterns of healthcare activity that should be altered
C) Requires discussion with the plaintiff's legal team of malpractice attorneys
D) Should be included as a part of the patient's permanent medial record

Accepted Answer

Incident reports can help identify patterns of healthcare activity that may need to be altered to prevent future incidents.

Answer: D
 Incident reports should be included in the patient's permanent medical record to provide a complete and accurate record of the patient's care.

Answer: A and C are incorrect
 Incident reports may not always be discoverable in malpractice litigation, and discussing the report with the plaintiff's legal team is not necessary or recommended.

Question 17

How does risk management differ from quality management?
A) Quality management lessens effects of unavoidable risks.
B) Quality management processes are outcome oriented.
C) Risk management's primary focus is on improving clinical care.
D) Risk management identifies areas of operational and financial loss.

Accepted Answer

Risk management focuses on identifying and minimizing areas of potential operational and financial loss, whereas quality management focuses on ensuring that processes and outcomes meet established standards of quality. While quality management may help to mitigate certain risks, it is not primarily concerned with identifying and managing risks.

Question 18

Admissibility refers to _____.
A) data that may be uncovered during investigation of a possible incident by the risk manager
B) information that is always entered into evidence by the plaintiff's attorney during a malpractice trial
C) the right of the healthcare facility to keep certain healthcare information confidential and private
D) whether information is pertinent and proper for a jury to consider when deciding legal issues

Accepted Answer

Admissibility refers to whether information is relevant and proper for a jury to consider when deciding legal issues, and whether it can be entered into evidence or not. It is a legal term that is relevant to trials and litigation.

Question 19

Automated databases in the context of risk management _____.
A) Decrease reliability of statistical analysis by making information less searchable
B) May be used to compile information in an effort to increase prevention of loss
C) Operate in the confines of health information management functions alone
D) Reduce risk of loss due to the large amount of stored sensitive information

Accepted Answer

Automated databases can be used to compile and store information to aid in risk management, such as tracking incidents and analyzing trends for preventive measures.

Question 20

Which a nontechnical measure that might be employed to enhance security controls related to healthcare records access?
A) Educating employees about how to properly handle information.
B) Installing firewalls on all computers in the healthcare facility.
C) Requiring employees to change their password every 90 days.
D) Utilizing effective data mining techniques to access information.

Accepted Answer

Educating employees on how to properly handle information is a nontechnical measure that can enhance security controls related to healthcare records access. This includes training on password protection, secure transmission of data, and proper disposal of sensitive information. By increasing awareness and knowledge among employees, the risk of data breaches caused by insider threats or human error is reduced.

Quiz 12: Risk Management, Quality Management, and Utilization Management

Before an incident report is admitted into evidence,the document must _____.

Which is an example of a sentinel event?

HIPAA requires a covered entity to perform a risk analysis and implement standards to protect the institution's health information records.Which is one of those standards?

An adverse incident is defined as a(n) _____.

The Darling vs.Charleston Community Memorial Hospital case established the precedent that _____.

The patient record documentation element that the health information manager can recommend to reduce risks to a health care facility is_____.

Charitable immunity is the _____.

For which situation would an incident report be generated?

Which data mining technique associated with the electronic health record enhances security and reduces patient risk?

To protect an incident report from discovery,_____.

Which is characteristic of an incident report?

What is the most important way to reduce an organization's risk due to loss or litigation?

Which is a legal consideration that applies to the retention of health care records?

If an incident report is inadvertently released during the discovery process along with the medical record,_____ applies.

Which incident would be reported to the risk manager?

An incident report _____.

How does risk management differ from quality management?

Admissibility refers to _____.

Automated databases in the context of risk management _____.

Which a nontechnical measure that might be employed to enhance security controls related to healthcare records access?