BTC Patient Assessment & Documentation 4

Question 1

A physician orders a cardiac output measurement using a pulmonary artery catheter. The biomedical technician setting up the hemodynamic monitor should verify that the system is zeroed to which reference level?

Accepted Answer

The phlebostatic axis (4th intercostal space, mid-axillary line)

Answer

Hemodynamic pressure transducers must be zeroed to the phlebostatic axis to obtain accurate pressure readings relative to the right atrium.

Question 2

In a post-incident equipment review, a biomedical technician finds that a pulse oximeter read SpO2 of 99% while the patient was clinically hypoxic. Which condition most commonly causes this documentation-relevant false reading?

Accepted Answer

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Answer

Carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin similarly to oxygen; standard pulse oximeters cannot distinguish between the two, causing falsely elevated SpO2 readings.

Question 3

When documenting the results of an electrical safety test, a technician records chassis leakage current of 450 µA under normal conditions. Per AAMI ES60601-1, this reading for a Class I device is:

Accepted Answer

Above the 300 µA normal-condition limit and requires action

Answer

AAMI ES60601-1 limits chassis (enclosure) leakage current to 100 µA under normal conditions for patient-connected Class I devices; 450 µA exceeds this limit.

Question 4

A biomedical technician is asked to assess whether a hospital's ventilators have the software version needed to address a recalled alarm feature. The primary document source for identifying affected units is:

Accepted Answer

The manufacturer's Field Safety Corrective Action (FSCA) or recall notice with affected serial number ranges

Answer

The manufacturer's FSCA or FDA recall notice specifies affected model numbers, serial number ranges, and software versions to identify equipment requiring remediation.

Question 5

During patient assessment of a new EEG machine installation, the biomedical technician applies a test signal and notes 60 Hz artifact on all channels. The most likely cause to document is:

Accepted Answer

Inadequate common-mode rejection from poor grounding or shielding

Answer

60 Hz artifact across all EEG channels typically indicates a grounding or shielding problem causing power-line interference with insufficient common-mode rejection.

(BTC) Biomedical Technician Certification Practice Test

(BTC) Biomedical Technician Certification Practice Test

BTC Patient Assessment & Documentation 4