CTC Safety & Infection Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A telehealth platform vendor reports a data breach affecting patient health information. Under HIPAA, within how many days must a covered entity notify affected individuals?
- 30 days
- 45 days
- 60 days
- Within 60 calendar days of discovery (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Within 60 calendar days of discovery
HIPAA's Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify affected individuals without unreasonable delay and within 60 calendar days of discovery.
Question 2: Which hand hygiene agent is most effective against Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) spores?
- Alcohol-based hand rub
- Chlorhexidine gluconate wash
- Soap and water (mechanical washing) (Correct answer)
- Triclosan-based sanitizer
Correct answer: Soap and water (mechanical washing)
Alcohol-based products do not kill C. diff spores; soap and water with mechanical friction physically removes them.
Question 3: A telehealth visit is conducted with a patient in a skilled nursing facility. Who is primarily responsible for ensuring the patient's room meets infection control standards during the visit?
- The telehealth coordinator at the originating site
- The distant-site physician
- The facility's infection control officer / SNF staff (Correct answer)
- The patient's family members
Correct answer: The facility's infection control officer / SNF staff
The facility's infection control personnel are responsible for maintaining environmental safety standards at the originating site.
Question 4: What does the acronym PPE stand for in the context of infection control?
- Patient Protection Equipment
- Personal Protective Equipment (Correct answer)
- Pathogen Prevention Ensemble
- Professional Practice Environment
Correct answer: Personal Protective Equipment
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) includes gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection used to protect healthcare workers from infectious exposure.
Question 5: A telehealth coordinator is conducting remote triage. A patient mentions fever, chills, and a rash following a tick bite. What is the most important safety action?
- Advise the patient to take over-the-counter antipyretics
- Escalate to a clinician immediately and recommend urgent in-person evaluation (Correct answer)
- Schedule a routine follow-up telehealth visit in one week
- Suggest the patient monitor symptoms at home for 48 hours
Correct answer: Escalate to a clinician immediately and recommend urgent in-person evaluation
Symptoms of a tick-borne illness like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be life-threatening and require urgent clinical escalation.
Question 6: Which of the following is a key element of a telehealth organization's emergency operations plan related to patient safety?
- Maintaining a list of competitor telehealth platforms
- Procedures for notifying patients and redirecting care during a system outage (Correct answer)
- A marketing plan for service disruption events
- Staff vacation schedules during emergencies
Correct answer: Procedures for notifying patients and redirecting care during a system outage
Emergency operations plans must include patient notification and care continuity procedures to ensure safety during system failures.
Question 7: What type of isolation precaution is required for patients with suspected or confirmed influenza during an in-person follow-up after a telehealth diagnosis?
- Airborne Precautions
- Contact Precautions
- Droplet Precautions (Correct answer)
- Standard Precautions only
Correct answer: Droplet Precautions
Influenza spreads via respiratory droplets, requiring Droplet Precautions including surgical masks and eye protection within 3 feet.
CTC Safety & Infection Control 3
A telehealth platform vendor reports a data breach affecting patient health information.
Under HIPAA, within how many days must a covered entity notify affected individuals?