Quality Improvement Flashcards
7 cards from real AHIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality Improvement flashcards as text
Which QI methodology uses a structured problem-solving approach with eight specific steps including defining the problem, analyzing root causes, and verifying solutions?
Answer: Eight Disciplines (8D)
The 8D (Eight Disciplines) methodology provides a structured eight-step team-based problem-solving approach commonly used in healthcare quality improvement.
A hospital wants to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Which tool would BEST help the QI team identify and visualize all potential contributing factors?
Answer: Fishbone diagram
A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is used to systematically identify and organize potential root causes of a problem across categories such as people, process, equipment, and environment.
In statistical process control, a process is considered 'in control' when:
Answer: All data points fall within three standard deviations of the mean with no non-random patterns
A process is in statistical control when all variation is due to common cause variation, evidenced by data points within control limits and no non-random patterns (runs, trends, etc.).
The IHI Triple Aim framework focuses on three simultaneous goals. Which combination correctly represents these goals?
Answer: Population health, patient experience, and per capita cost
The IHI Triple Aim addresses improving the health of populations, enhancing the patient experience of care, and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare.
Which statistical test is most appropriate for analyzing whether a QI intervention significantly changed a continuous outcome variable measured before and after in the same patient group?
Answer: Paired t-test
A paired t-test compares means from the same group measured at two time points, making it appropriate for pre-post intervention studies with continuous normally distributed data.
What is the primary purpose of a 'failure mode and effects analysis' (FMEA) in healthcare quality improvement?
Answer: Proactively identify potential process failures before they cause harm
FMEA is a prospective risk assessment tool used to proactively identify potential failure modes in a process, evaluate their likelihood and impact, and prioritize prevention efforts.
A QI team calculates a Risk Priority Number (RPN) during an FMEA. Which three factors are multiplied to calculate the RPN?
Answer: Severity, occurrence, and detectability
In FMEA, the Risk Priority Number is calculated by multiplying Severity (impact of the failure), Occurrence (likelihood of the failure), and Detectability (ability to detect the failure before it reaches the patient).