CMM Patient Safety & Risk Management Flashcards

Which tool is MOST commonly used during a prospective risk assessment to identify potential failure points before a process is implemented?

Answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

FMEA is a proactive tool that systematically identifies potential failure modes in a process and assesses their likelihood and impact before harm occurs.

Under HIPAA, a 'covered entity' that experiences a breach affecting 500 or more individuals must notify:

Answer: The affected individuals, HHS, and prominent media outlets without unreasonable delay

HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify affected individuals, HHS, and (for breaches ≥500 in a state/jurisdiction) local media promptly.

A medical manager reviewing a 'near miss' report should treat it as:

Answer: A valuable learning opportunity to prevent future patient harm

Near misses are critical learning opportunities because they reveal system vulnerabilities before actual harm occurs, enabling proactive correction.

The National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) published annually by The Joint Commission are PRIMARILY focused on:

Answer: Addressing the most critical patient safety challenges in accredited organizations

NPSGs target the highest-priority patient safety issues identified through sentinel event data and expert consensus, guiding accredited organizations' safety efforts.

Which risk management strategy involves transferring financial liability for a specific risk to a third party?

Answer: Risk transfer

Risk transfer shifts the financial burden of a risk to another party, most commonly through insurance policies or contractual agreements.

A 'culture of safety' in a healthcare organization is BEST characterized by:

Answer: Leadership commitment, open communication, and psychological safety for reporting concerns

A culture of safety requires visible leadership commitment, non-punitive reporting, and psychological safety so staff can speak up about risks without fear.