Patient Safety and Risk Management Flashcards

Which of the following is an example of a sentinel event as defined by The Joint Commission?

Answer: Wrong-site surgery performed on a patient

Wrong-site surgery is classified as a sentinel event because it is a serious, largely preventable patient safety event that signals a need for immediate investigation and response.

The 'Swiss Cheese Model' of accident causation in healthcare illustrates that:

Answer: Multiple layers of defense can still allow errors to pass through when their gaps align

The Swiss Cheese Model shows that accidents occur when holes in multiple defensive layers simultaneously align, allowing a hazard to reach the patient.

Which medication safety approach involves a pharmacist reviewing physician orders for accuracy and appropriateness before dispensing?

Answer: Pharmacy verification review

Pharmacy verification review is a safety check where a pharmacist reviews physician orders for accuracy and clinical appropriateness before medications are dispensed.

Under HIPAA, a covered entity must report a breach affecting 500 or more individuals to which body within 60 days?

Answer: HHS Office for Civil Rights

HIPAA's Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify the HHS Office for Civil Rights of breaches affecting 500 or more individuals within 60 days of discovery.

What is the primary purpose of a healthcare organization's incident reporting system?

Answer: To collect data on errors and near misses to drive safety improvements

Incident reporting systems are designed to capture data on errors, near misses, and unsafe conditions to drive quality improvement and prevent future patient harm.

Which patient identification protocol is recommended by The Joint Commission to prevent identification errors before providing care?

Answer: Verify using at least two patient identifiers such as name and date of birth

The Joint Commission recommends using at least two patient identifiers (such as name and date of birth) to reliably identify patients before providing any care or treatment.