Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

Which CMS Condition of Participation requires hospitals to report healthcare-associated infections to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)?

Answer: 42 CFR §482.42 – Infection Control

§482.42 requires hospitals to participate in national infection surveillance systems, including NHSN reporting, as part of their infection control CoP.

A Medicare-certified ambulatory surgical center (ASC) must implement which minimum safety standard to prevent patient falls in the procedure area?

Answer: Non-slip flooring and secured equipment pathways with fall risk assessments

CMS requires ASCs to maintain a safe physical environment with fall prevention measures, including non-slip surfaces and pre-procedure fall risk assessments.

Under Medicare's Requirements of Participation, what must a long-term care facility's antibiotic stewardship program include?

Answer: Policies, procedures, and systems to improve antibiotic use, minimize resistance, and reduce adverse effects

CMS requires LTC facilities to have a comprehensive antibiotic stewardship program with policies, tracking, reporting, and education to optimize antibiotic use.

Which scenario best illustrates a violation of CMS standard precautions in a Medicare-certified home health setting?

Answer: A nurse recaps a used needle with two hands before disposal

Recapping needles with two hands is a prohibited practice under standard precautions because it dramatically increases the risk of needlestick injury.

A CMS quality improvement initiative finds that a hospital's MRSA bloodstream infection rate is above the national benchmark. Which immediate step should the infection control team prioritize?

Answer: Conduct a root cause analysis to identify gaps in decolonization and contact precaution compliance

A root cause analysis is the evidence-based first step to identifying specific failures in the care process driving elevated MRSA rates.

Which type of Medicare survey deficiency is assigned when an infection control practice creates a pattern of potential harm but no immediate jeopardy exists?

Answer: Scope and severity level D–F (no actual harm with potential for more than minimal harm)

Deficiencies at scope and severity D–F indicate no actual harm but a potential for harm beyond minimal, placing them below actual harm and immediate jeopardy levels.

Which Medicare-covered service is specifically required to include patient and caregiver education on infection prevention as part of the plan of care?

Answer: Home health services under the Medicare Home Health Benefit

Medicare home health CoPs require the plan of care to include patient and caregiver education, including infection prevention practices relevant to the patient's condition.