Quality Control & Process Improvement Flashcards

In orthotic practice, a 'non-conformance report' is used to:

Answer: Document instances where a product or process fails to meet established standards

Non-conformance reports formally document deviations from standards, enabling tracking, trend analysis, and corrective action in quality systems.

Which approach to supplier quality management is MOST appropriate for an orthotics practice?

Answer: Evaluate suppliers based on product consistency, defect rates, and delivery reliability

Evaluating suppliers on consistency, defect rates, and reliability ensures that the raw materials and prefabricated devices meet quality standards before they reach patients.

A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is used in quality improvement to:

Answer: Identify and categorize potential causes of a quality problem

A fishbone diagram visually organizes potential root causes of a problem into categories such as people, process, equipment, and environment.

Which standard is MOST relevant to quality management systems in U.S. durable medical equipment and orthotic businesses?

Answer: ISO 9001

ISO 9001 provides the framework for quality management systems and is applicable to orthotic and prosthetic businesses seeking to formalize their quality processes.

Patient satisfaction surveys in an orthotic practice are BEST used to:

Answer: Identify gaps in service quality and patient-perceived functional outcomes

Satisfaction surveys capture the patient's perspective on care and device performance, complementing clinical measures to guide service improvements.

When a batch of prefabricated orthotics is recalled by the manufacturer, the FIRST step for the orthotist is to:

Answer: Identify which patients received devices from the affected lot and notify them

Identifying and notifying affected patients is the immediate priority during a recall to protect patient safety and comply with professional and legal obligations.

Benchmarking in an orthotic practice involves:

Answer: Comparing your practice's performance metrics against industry best practices or peer facilities

Benchmarking uses external reference points—industry standards or high-performing peers—to identify performance gaps and set realistic improvement targets.