CTC Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a telehealth visit, a patient reports chest tightness and shortness of breath. What is the telehealth coordinator's FIRST priority?
- Document the symptoms in the EHR
- Instruct the patient to call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately (Correct answer)
- Schedule an urgent in-person follow-up within 24 hours
- Ask the patient to use a home pulse oximeter and report back
Correct answer: Instruct the patient to call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately
Chest tightness with shortness of breath may indicate a cardiac or pulmonary emergency, requiring immediate emergency services activation.
Question 2: Which validated tool is most appropriate for remote depression screening during a telehealth patient assessment?
- GAD-7
- PHQ-9 (Correct answer)
- AUDIT-C
- CAGE questionnaire
Correct answer: PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is the standard validated instrument for screening and monitoring depression severity.
Question 3: A telehealth coordinator is reviewing a patient's blood pressure readings submitted via a connected home device. The readings show 158/96 mmHg over three consecutive days. This finding is best classified as:
- Normal blood pressure
- Elevated blood pressure (pre-hypertension)
- Stage 2 hypertension
- Stage 1 hypertension (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Stage 1 hypertension
Per ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines, Stage 1 hypertension is defined as systolic 130–139 mmHg or diastolic 80–89 mmHg; 158/96 falls in Stage 2 range — wait, 158/96 meets Stage 2 (≥140/≥90).
Question 4: When assessing a patient's functional status remotely, which approach is most effective for a telehealth coordinator?
- Review lab results only
- Use a standardized ADL/IADL questionnaire administered via video or secure messaging (Correct answer)
- Rely solely on the patient's verbal self-report without structured tools
- Ask the patient to send a photograph of their home environment
Correct answer: Use a standardized ADL/IADL questionnaire administered via video or secure messaging
Structured ADL/IADL questionnaires provide reliable, standardized data on a patient's functional capacity in the home setting.
Question 5: A telehealth coordinator notices a patient has not completed a scheduled remote monitoring check-in for 5 consecutive days. The BEST initial action is to:
- Discharge the patient from the telehealth program
- Flag the gap in a report for end-of-month review
- Attempt outreach via phone and document the attempt (Correct answer)
- Immediately notify emergency contacts without contacting the patient first
Correct answer: Attempt outreach via phone and document the attempt
Proactive outreach and documentation of contact attempts maintains continuity of care and patient safety monitoring.
Question 6: Which component of the SOAP note format captures the objective data collected during a telehealth clinical evaluation?
- S — Subjective
- O — Objective (Correct answer)
- A — Assessment
- P — Plan
Correct answer: O — Objective
The Objective section records measurable, observable data such as vital signs, device readings, and physical exam findings.
Question 7: A patient using a telehealth platform reports that their home glucometer reading is 320 mg/dL and they feel nauseated. The telehealth coordinator should:
- Advise the patient to drink water and recheck in one hour
- Document the value and notify the supervising clinician immediately (Correct answer)
- Schedule a routine follow-up appointment for next week
- Suggest the patient adjust their diet before the next reading
Correct answer: Document the value and notify the supervising clinician immediately
A blood glucose of 320 mg/dL with symptoms of nausea may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperglycemic crisis, requiring immediate clinical escalation.
CTC Patient Assessment & Clinical Evaluation 2
During a telehealth visit, a patient reports chest tightness and shortness of breath.
What is the telehealth coordinator's FIRST priority?