IAHCSMM Inventory Management & Distribution 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which inventory management system automatically generates a purchase order when stock falls to a predetermined minimum level?
- Par-level system
- Periodic order system
- Reorder point system (Correct answer)
- FIFO system
Correct answer: Reorder point system
The reorder point system automatically triggers a purchase order when inventory drops to the preset minimum quantity needed to sustain operations until the next delivery.
Question 2: In the FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory method, which items are distributed first?
- Items with the highest cost
- Most recently received items
- Items with the earliest expiration date (Correct answer)
- Items stored at the back of the shelf
Correct answer: Items with the earliest expiration date
FIFO ensures that items received first (and typically with the earliest expiration dates) are used or distributed before newer stock, preventing waste and outdating.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a par-level system in CS/SPD inventory management?
- To track item expiration dates
- To maintain a set minimum quantity of supplies at each location (Correct answer)
- To record sterilization cycle data
- To calculate the cost per instrument set
Correct answer: To maintain a set minimum quantity of supplies at each location
A par-level system establishes a defined minimum quantity for each supply item at each location, ensuring replenishment occurs before stock runs out.
Question 4: Which distribution method involves case carts being assembled in the CS department and delivered to the OR before each surgical procedure?
- Requisition system
- Exchange cart system
- Case cart system (Correct answer)
- Periodic automatic replenishment (PAR) system
Correct answer: Case cart system
The case cart system involves CS staff assembling all needed supplies and instruments for a specific surgical procedure onto a cart that is then delivered to the OR.
Question 5: What does the term 'stock rotation' mean in central service inventory management?
- Physically rotating instruments in the drum sterilizer
- Moving older inventory to the front so it is used before newer stock (Correct answer)
- Transferring stock between departments weekly
- Counting all inventory items once per quarter
Correct answer: Moving older inventory to the front so it is used before newer stock
Stock rotation means placing newly received items behind existing stock so that older items are used first, which maintains product integrity and prevents expiration.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes an 'exchange cart' distribution system?
- A cart exchanged between CS and the OR daily with only sterile instruments
- A system where a full cart replaces an empty or depleted cart at a nursing unit (Correct answer)
- A rolling cart used exclusively for hazardous material transport
- A cart assigned permanently to one OR suite
Correct answer: A system where a full cart replaces an empty or depleted cart at a nursing unit
In an exchange cart system, a fully stocked cart is brought to the using department and the depleted cart is returned to CS for restocking, ensuring continuous supply availability.
Question 7: Why is it important for CS technicians to check the expiration dates of sterile packages during inventory management?
- To ensure the sterilizer is functioning correctly
- Expired packaging may compromise sterility and pose patient safety risks (Correct answer)
- Expiration dates determine billing codes for procedures
- To verify the correct sterilization method was used
Correct answer: Expired packaging may compromise sterility and pose patient safety risks
An expired sterile package cannot be guaranteed to be sterile, as packaging integrity may degrade over time, posing a direct infection risk to patients.
IAHCSMM Inventory Management & Distribution 1
Which inventory management system automatically generates a purchase order when stock falls to a predetermined minimum level?