Interdisciplinary Care Flashcards
7 cards from real CAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Interdisciplinary Care flashcards as text
A patient being treated for low back pain reports new saddle anesthesia and difficulty urinating. What is the most appropriate action?
Answer: Refer immediately to emergency care
Saddle anesthesia with bladder dysfunction suggests cauda equina syndrome, which is a surgical emergency.
Before an acupuncturist sends a patient's treatment notes to the patient's primary care physician for coordinated care, what is generally required under HIPAA?
Answer: Disclosure for treatment purposes is permitted without separate authorization
HIPAA permits covered providers to share protected health information with other providers for treatment purposes without a separate authorization.
A patient on warfarin asks about adding Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) to their regimen. What is the best response?
Answer: Avoid it or coordinate with the prescriber because it can increase bleeding risk
Dan Shen can potentiate warfarin's anticoagulant effect and raise INR, so the prescribing physician should be involved.
Which communication format is most effective when an acupuncturist writes a referral letter to a medical specialist?
Answer: A concise summary using standard biomedical terminology, findings, and the specific reason for referral
Clear biomedical language and a specific referral question make interdisciplinary communication effective and professional.
A cancer patient receiving chemotherapy has an absolute neutrophil count well below normal. Which precaution is most important for acupuncture?
Answer: Strict clean needle technique and coordination with the oncology team due to infection risk
Neutropenia greatly increases infection risk, so meticulous asepsis and oncology coordination are essential.
In an integrative pain clinic, which professional is primarily responsible for prescribing and adjusting opioid medications?
Answer: The licensed prescriber, such as an MD, DO, or NP
Medication management falls under the scope of licensed prescribers, not acupuncturists.
A patient asks the acupuncturist whether they should stop taking their prescribed antihypertensive because they feel better. What is the appropriate response?
Answer: Advise them to discuss any medication changes with their prescribing physician
Changing prescription medications is outside the acupuncturist's scope and must involve the prescriber.