Patient Safety & Risk Management Flashcards
7 cards from real COM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Safety & Risk Management flashcards as text
A child patient becomes visibly distressed and refuses to open their mouth during therapy. Which risk management approach is most appropriate?
Answer: Discontinue the exercise, acknowledge the child's feelings, and modify the approach
Forcing compliance creates safety and ethical risks; a patient-centered, adaptive approach maintains trust and prevents harm.
What is the primary reason orofacial myologists should screen for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders before initiating therapy?
Answer: To avoid exercises that could exacerbate joint pain or dysfunction
Undiagnosed or poorly managed TMJ disorders can be aggravated by certain orofacial exercises, increasing the risk of patient harm.
Which scenario represents a breach of patient confidentiality under HIPAA?
Answer: Sharing a patient's progress photos on social media without consent
Posting identifiable patient information on social media without explicit written authorization violates HIPAA privacy rules.
An adult patient with a known seizure disorder is in your clinic. Which preparedness measure is most important?
Answer: Know the patient's seizure history, current medications, and emergency contacts before each visit
Knowing the patient's seizure profile and emergency contacts allows the clinician to respond appropriately if a seizure occurs.
A new patient's health history form reveals they are taking warfarin (blood thinner). Which consideration is most relevant to orofacial myology?
Answer: Avoid any exercises or instruments that could cause oral bleeding or tissue trauma
Anticoagulant therapy increases bleeding risk, so clinicians must avoid intraoral procedures that could cause tissue trauma.
What is the role of an orofacial myologist when a patient reports new jaw pain that developed during their therapy program?
Answer: Pause relevant exercises, document the complaint, and refer to an appropriate provider
New pain is a clinical red flag that requires cessation of potentially causative exercises and professional evaluation.
Which element is essential in a valid informed consent form for orofacial myology therapy?
Answer: An explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed therapy
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives so patients can make autonomous decisions.