Risk Management Protocols Flashcards

Which documentation element is MOST important to include in a post-session AAT progress note from a risk management perspective?

Answer: Any unusual animal behavior, client reactions, or safety concerns observed during the session

Documenting behavioral observations and safety concerns creates a professional record that supports liability protection and quality improvement.

What is the BEST rationale for excluding a therapy animal from sessions on days it receives certain flea and tick treatments?

Answer: Topical pesticide residues on the animal's coat can be absorbed through client skin contact

Topical parasiticides can leave chemical residues on the animal's fur that pose dermal absorption risks to clients, especially children and immunocompromised individuals.

Which of the following BEST describes the role of a written AAT program policy in risk management?

Answer: It establishes clear operational standards, reduces liability, and guides staff decision-making consistently

A written policy creates accountability, standardizes practice, and provides legal and ethical grounding for all AAT-related decisions.

When an AAT client has a known allergy to animal dander, the practitioner should:

Answer: Conduct a thorough allergy severity assessment and obtain medical clearance before any animal contact

Known animal allergies require medical evaluation to determine severity before exposure, as reactions can range from mild to anaphylactic.

In a group AAT session, which risk factor increases most significantly compared to an individual session?

Answer: Unpredictability of client interactions with the animal simultaneously

Multiple clients interacting with one animal simultaneously increases the complexity of monitoring the animal's stress signals and managing safe client behavior.

A new AAT volunteer handler is uncertain whether to report a minor incident where the therapy animal snapped but made no contact. The CORRECT guidance is:

Answer: Report all near-miss incidents as they indicate elevated risk and require follow-up evaluation

Near-miss incidents (snaps without contact) are significant warning events that require formal reporting and behavioral re-evaluation of the animal.

What is the primary reason AAT practitioners are advised against using punishment-based training methods with therapy animals?

Answer: Animals trained with aversive methods show higher rates of unpredictable aggression under stress

Aversive training suppresses behavior without resolving underlying emotional states, increasing the risk of redirected or unpredictable aggression in novel therapy environments.