CO Patient Safety & Risk Management 2

Question 1

A patient with peripheral neuropathy reports no discomfort after 2 hours of wearing a new AFO, but the orthotist notices a 2 cm area of blanched skin on the fibular head. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately modify the orthosis to relieve pressure over the fibular head

Answer

Blanching over a bony prominence such as the fibular head indicates excessive pressure that can rapidly progress to a pressure ulcer, especially in neuropathic patients who cannot feel pain.

Question 2

Under HIPAA, an orthotist may share a patient's protected health information (PHI) without written authorization for which of the following purposes?

Accepted Answer

Treatment coordination with the referring physician

Answer

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations without specific patient authorization, including communication with other treating providers.

Question 3

When documenting a patient's informed consent for a new orthotic device, which element is MOST critical to record?

Accepted Answer

That the patient was informed of risks, benefits, and alternatives

Answer

Informed consent documentation must confirm that the patient received and understood information about risks, benefits, and alternatives to make an autonomous decision.

Question 4

A child patient arrives for an orthotic fitting accompanied only by an older sibling (age 16). The orthotist should:

Accepted Answer

Reschedule and require a legal guardian to be present

Answer

Minors cannot provide legal consent; a parent or legal guardian must be present to authorize treatment unless an emergency exists.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a sentinel event review in an orthotics practice?

Accepted Answer

To analyze root causes and prevent recurrence of serious adverse events

Answer

Sentinel event reviews use root cause analysis to identify systemic factors contributing to serious incidents and implement process improvements to prevent recurrence.

(CO) Certified Orthoptist Practice Test

(CO) Certified Orthoptist Practice Test

CO Patient Safety & Risk Management 2