CHSA CHSA Healthcare Facility Management & Operations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A healthcare facility administrator is evaluating operational efficiency. Which indicator best measures the productive use of inpatient beds?
- Case Mix Index (CMI)
- Bed Occupancy Rate (Correct answer)
- Readmission Rate
- Average Daily Census (ADC)
Correct answer: Bed Occupancy Rate
Bed occupancy rate (occupied beds ÷ total available beds × 100) is the standard metric for measuring how efficiently inpatient bed capacity is being utilized.
Question 2: Which federal law requires US hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment regardless of a patient's ability to pay?
- HIPAA
- EMTALA (Correct answer)
- ACA
- Stark Law
Correct answer: EMTALA
EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) requires hospitals with emergency departments to screen and stabilize patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Question 3: In US healthcare facility management, what does a 'sentinel event' specifically refer to?
- A near-miss incident caught before harming a patient
- An unexpected event resulting in serious patient harm or death (Correct answer)
- A reportable infection acquired in the facility
- A medication error that was corrected before administration
Correct answer: An unexpected event resulting in serious patient harm or death
The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, signaling the need for immediate investigation.
Question 4: A hospital is implementing Lean management principles. What is the primary goal of Lean in healthcare operations?
- Reducing workforce size to cut costs
- Eliminating waste while maximizing patient value and care quality (Correct answer)
- Standardizing all clinical protocols across departments
- Increasing patient throughput above all other priorities
Correct answer: Eliminating waste while maximizing patient value and care quality
Lean methodology in healthcare focuses on identifying and eliminating waste (non-value-added activities) in processes to improve quality, safety, and efficiency for patients.
Question 5: What is the function of a healthcare organization's charge description master (CDM)?
- Listing all credentialed medical staff and their specialties
- Cataloging all billable services, supplies, and procedures with associated charges (Correct answer)
- Tracking all patient diagnoses using ICD codes
- Documenting all payer contracts and reimbursement rates
Correct answer: Cataloging all billable services, supplies, and procedures with associated charges
The CDM (chargemaster) is a comprehensive list of all goods and services a facility bills, including charge codes and amounts, forming the foundation of the billing process.
Question 6: Under CMS Conditions of Participation, how frequently must a hospital's medical staff bylaws be reviewed?
- Every 6 months
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- As needed when issues arise
Correct answer: Annually
CMS requires hospital medical staff bylaws to be reviewed at least annually to ensure they remain current with regulatory changes and organizational needs.
CHSA CHSA Healthcare Facility Management & Operations 2
A healthcare facility administrator is evaluating operational efficiency.
Which indicator best measures the productive use of inpatient beds?