Risk Management & Mitigation Flashcards

A school-based SLP notices that a child's IEP goals have not been updated despite significant regression over the past three months. What risk does this present?

Answer: Legal, ethical, and clinical risk due to failure to provide appropriate services under IDEA

Failure to update IEP goals during regression violates IDEA requirements and creates legal liability while potentially denying the child appropriate services.

Which practice best supports informed consent as a risk management strategy in speech-language pathology?

Answer: Explaining the nature of services, potential risks and benefits, alternatives, and the right to withdraw

True informed consent requires a thorough explanation of services, risks, benefits, alternatives, and client autonomy, documented appropriately.

An SLP working in a hospital is treating a patient when monitoring alarms begin sounding. The SLP should FIRST:

Answer: Assess the patient's status and call for nursing assistance immediately

Medical alarms signal potential physiological emergencies; the SLP must immediately assess the patient and summon appropriate medical assistance.

A client's family member insists that the SLP share confidential treatment information without the client's written consent. The SLP's correct response is to:

Answer: Decline to share and explain HIPAA protections, offering to facilitate authorized disclosure

HIPAA prohibits disclosure of protected health information without written authorization except in specific circumstances; the SLP must decline and explain the process for authorized release.

Which element is most critical when completing an incident report after an adverse event involving a client during SLP treatment?

Answer: Providing a factual, objective account of events, actions taken, and client status

Incident reports must be objective and factual, completed promptly, and focused on what occurred and how it was managed rather than personal interpretations.

An SLP in private practice discovers that a billing error resulted in overbilling a third-party payer. What is the ethically and legally correct response?

Answer: Self-report the error to the payer, refund the overpayment, and implement corrective measures

Federal law and ASHA ethics require prompt self-disclosure and refund of overbillings; failing to do so may constitute fraud.

During a group therapy session, one client discloses another client's personal health information out loud. What risk management step should the SLP take?

Answer: Intervene to redirect the disclosure, remind clients of group confidentiality rules, and document the incident

The SLP must intervene to stop further disclosure, reinforce confidentiality norms, and document the incident as part of risk management.