CHT Professional Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CHT working in an outpatient clinic sees a patient who reveals they are experiencing domestic violence. The therapist's primary obligation is to:
- Contact law enforcement immediately without patient consent
- Document findings and provide resources; mandatory reporting varies by state law (Correct answer)
- Ignore the disclosure as it is outside the therapy scope
- Terminate treatment until safety is established
Correct answer: Document findings and provide resources; mandatory reporting varies by state law
Domestic violence mandatory reporting requirements vary by state; therapists must document findings, provide support resources, and follow applicable state laws.
Question 2: Which model best describes evidence-based practice in hand therapy?
- Relying solely on published research studies
- Integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values (Correct answer)
- Following only the most recent clinical guidelines
- Using the most cost-effective treatment regardless of outcomes
Correct answer: Integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values
Evidence-based practice requires integration of the best available research, therapist clinical expertise, and individual patient preferences and values.
Question 3: A CHT is asked to provide therapy services that are outside their current competency level. The ethical response is to:
- Attempt the service and learn through practice
- Decline and refer to an appropriately skilled provider (Correct answer)
- Research the topic briefly and proceed
- Provide the service only if supervised remotely
Correct answer: Decline and refer to an appropriately skilled provider
Practicing outside one's competency violates professional ethics; the appropriate action is to refer to a qualified provider.
Question 4: When writing a functional capacity evaluation report for workers' compensation, the CHT should ensure that:
- Conclusions favor the referring employer
- Findings are objective, reproducible, and based on standardized testing (Correct answer)
- Recommendations maximize the duration of disability benefits
- Reports are kept brief and avoid numerical data
Correct answer: Findings are objective, reproducible, and based on standardized testing
FCE reports must be objective, based on standardized and reproducible measures, and free from bias toward any party.
Question 5: The principle of beneficence in hand therapy practice means the therapist should:
- Avoid all treatments with potential risks
- Act in the best interest of the patient (Correct answer)
- Prioritize cost savings over patient outcomes
- Follow patient preferences even if harmful
Correct answer: Act in the best interest of the patient
Beneficence requires the therapist to actively promote the patient's well-being and provide treatments that offer the greatest benefit.
Question 6: A CHT receives a subpoena for a patient's medical records. The appropriate action is to:
- Release records immediately to comply with the subpoena
- Notify the patient and consult with legal counsel before releasing records (Correct answer)
- Destroy the records to protect patient privacy
- Forward the subpoena to the physician only
Correct answer: Notify the patient and consult with legal counsel before releasing records
A subpoena does not automatically override HIPAA; therapists should notify the patient and seek legal guidance before releasing records.
Question 7: In a hand therapy practice, informed consent must address which of the following?
- Only the cost of treatment
- Diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits, and alternatives (Correct answer)
- The therapist's clinical credentials only
- Insurance coverage details exclusively
Correct answer: Diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits, and alternatives
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of diagnosis, planned interventions, expected benefits, potential risks, and available alternatives.
CHT Professional Practice 3
A CHT working in an outpatient clinic sees a patient who reveals they are experiencing domestic violence.
The therapist's primary obligation is to: