CVT Patient Care, Safety & Medical Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient refuses a recommended echocardiogram despite understanding the risks of refusal. The CVT should:
- Proceed with the study because the physician ordered it
- Document the refusal and respect the patient's decision (Correct answer)
- Contact the patient's family to override the refusal
- Explain the risks again until the patient agrees
Correct answer: Document the refusal and respect the patient's decision
Competent adults have the right to refuse medical treatment; the refusal should be documented and the care team notified.
Question 2: Which of the following is the MOST effective method to prevent cross-contamination between patients during echocardiography?
- Using the same probe cover for multiple patients if visually clean
- Performing high-level disinfection of probes between patients (Correct answer)
- Wiping transducer surfaces with a dry cloth
- Applying antibacterial gel to the probe before each use
Correct answer: Performing high-level disinfection of probes between patients
Ultrasound transducers require high-level disinfection between patients to eliminate potential pathogens and prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3: A patient in the cardiac catheterization lab reports an allergy to iodine. What is the PRIORITY concern for the CVT and care team?
- Substituting the saline flush with a non-iodine solution
- Alerting the physician because contrast dye is iodine-based (Correct answer)
- Documenting the allergy and proceeding without contrast
- Rescheduling the procedure for an MRI instead
Correct answer: Alerting the physician because contrast dye is iodine-based
Iodine-based contrast agents are routinely used in cardiac catheterization; the physician must be alerted to consider premedication or alternative imaging.
Question 4: Under HIPAA, a CVT may share a patient's echocardiogram results with:
- The patient's employer upon written request
- A treating cardiologist involved in the patient's care (Correct answer)
- The patient's spouse without explicit patient authorization
- Media organizations if the case is medically significant
Correct answer: A treating cardiologist involved in the patient's care
HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information to treating providers involved in a patient's care without separate authorization.
Question 5: When setting up a crash cart in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, which medication is MOST critical for treating ventricular fibrillation?
- Atropine
- Epinephrine (Correct answer)
- Adenosine
- Digoxin
Correct answer: Epinephrine
Epinephrine is the primary vasopressor used during ACLS protocols for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless arrest.
Question 6: A CVT technologist discovers that a physician has ordered a duplicate echocardiogram that was performed yesterday. The BEST action is to:
- Perform the study again to comply with the physician's order
- Contact the physician to verify whether a repeat study is clinically indicated (Correct answer)
- Bill for the second study only if the patient consents
- Cancel the order without notifying the physician
Correct answer: Contact the physician to verify whether a repeat study is clinically indicated
Communicating with the ordering physician about potentially redundant testing prevents unnecessary patient exposure and healthcare resource waste.
Question 7: During patient transport to the catheterization lab, a patient becomes diaphoretic and unresponsive. After calling for help, the CVT's next step is to:
- Continue transporting the patient to the lab to reach monitoring equipment
- Begin assessment using the CAB (Circulation, Airway, Breathing) sequence (Correct answer)
- Administer IV fluids from the transport kit
- Wait for the physician to arrive before assessing the patient
Correct answer: Begin assessment using the CAB (Circulation, Airway, Breathing) sequence
Initiating emergency assessment using CAB priorities allows the CVT to identify and address life-threatening conditions while awaiting additional help.
CVT Patient Care, Safety & Medical Ethics 3
A patient refuses a recommended echocardiogram despite understanding the risks of refusal.
The CVT should: