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 patient calls to cancel their appointment but mentions they have been experiencing difficulty swallowing for the past week. What should the orofacial myologist do?
Answer: Advise the patient to seek medical evaluation promptly before resuming therapy
New dysphagia is a medical symptom that warrants physician evaluation to rule out serious underlying conditions before therapy continues.
In which situation is mandatory reporting most likely required for an orofacial myologist treating a pediatric patient?
Answer: Observation of unexplained bruising or signs consistent with physical abuse
Healthcare providers are mandated reporters and must report reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities.
What is the most appropriate action when a patient's emergency contact cannot be reached and the patient experiences a medical emergency during a session?
Answer: Activate emergency medical services (call 911) immediately
In a medical emergency, activating EMS is always the priority regardless of whether an emergency contact is reachable.
Why should orofacial myologists maintain professional liability (malpractice) insurance?
Answer: It protects the clinician financially if a patient files a claim of negligent care
Professional liability insurance provides financial and legal protection in the event a patient claims harm resulted from the clinician's negligence.
A patient's parent asks to record video of therapy sessions for home practice. Which is the most appropriate response?
Answer: Obtain written consent specifying permitted use of recordings before allowing them
Written consent protects both the patient's privacy rights and the clinician's interests by defining how recordings may be used.
An orofacial myologist uses tongue depressors during intraoral exercises. Which infection control requirement applies?
Answer: Single-use tongue depressors must be discarded after each patient
Tongue depressors are single-use items; reuse risks cross-contamination with bloodborne and other pathogens.
Which of the following is an example of proper scope-of-practice adherence by a certified orofacial myologist?
Answer: Identifying functional patterns that may be consistent with a tongue-tie and referring for evaluation
Orofacial myologists identify functional patterns and refer for diagnosis/procedure; they do not diagnose structural conditions or perform surgery.