DHA Patient Safety Guidelines 2

Question 1

The DHA Patient Safety Framework includes which internationally recognized patient safety goals as mandatory standards for licensed facilities?

Accepted Answer

JCI International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) adopted and mandated by DHA

Answer

ACGME core competencies for physician training

Answer

WHO Global Burden of Disease priorities only

Answer

NICE guidelines from the UK National Health Service

Question 2

Under DHA patient safety regulations, all healthcare facilities must have a functional incident reporting system. What is the primary goal of such a system?

Accepted Answer

To create a learning culture where incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions are reported and analyzed to prevent recurrence

Answer

To identify staff for disciplinary action when errors occur

Answer

To collect data for malpractice defense by the facility

Answer

To generate statistics for marketing the hospital as 'error-free'

Question 3

In the context of DHA patient safety and medication management, what is the 'tall-man lettering' technique?

Accepted Answer

Using mixed case letters to differentiate similar drug names (e.g., hydrALAZINE vs. hydrOXYzine) to prevent LASA errors

Answer

Using larger fonts for prescription labels in pharmacy

Answer

Writing drug doses in capital letters to emphasize dose

Answer

Printing medication labels in red for high-alert drugs

Question 4

A patient allergic to penicillin is prescribed cefazolin for surgical prophylaxis. The allergy is documented as 'rash.' What is the appropriate clinical decision?

Accepted Answer

The risk of cross-reactivity is low (1–2%); cefazolin is generally considered safe in patients with non-severe penicillin allergy (not anaphylaxis/SJS); assess allergy history carefully

Answer

Absolute contraindication — avoid all cephalosporins and use vancomycin

Answer

Always use vancomycin regardless of allergy severity

Answer

Skip surgical prophylaxis entirely due to the allergy

Question 5

What is the recommended first step when a healthcare worker suspects a medical device malfunction that may have caused or could cause patient harm?

Accepted Answer

Immediately remove the device from service, label it 'DO NOT USE,' report to biomedical engineering and the risk management department, and file an incident report

Answer

Continue using the device to confirm the malfunction

Answer

Repair the device independently at bedside

Answer

Wait until the device fails completely before reporting

Question 6

In DHA-licensed facilities, 'informed consent' for surgical procedures must be obtained by whom?

Accepted Answer

The operating surgeon (or another physician who has the training and knowledge to explain the procedure and its risks)

Answer

The ward nurse before the patient goes to theatre

Answer

Any hospital employee designated by the facility

Answer

The anesthesiologist for all surgical procedures