Safety and Professional Responsibilities Flashcards

A PT is treating a patient who discloses they are being physically abused at home. What is the PT's primary legal obligation?

Answer: Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities as required by mandatory reporting laws

PTs are mandatory reporters in most states and must report suspected abuse to appropriate authorities regardless of patient confidentiality.

During a treatment session, a patient's blood pressure rises to 190/110 mmHg. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Answer: Stop exercise, have the patient rest, and reassess blood pressure within 5 minutes

Stage 2 hypertension during exercise requires stopping activity and reassessing; if BP remains elevated or symptoms develop, medical referral is warranted.

Which action by a PTA requires immediate correction by the supervising PT?

Answer: Modifying treatment goals without PT consultation or documentation

Modifying goals is outside the PTA scope of practice and requires PT involvement and documentation.

A PT suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired by alcohol. What is the most appropriate first action?

Answer: Follow the facility's protocol for reporting impaired practitioners

The first step is to follow the facility's established impaired-practitioner reporting protocol, which then guides subsequent actions.

A patient refuses to sign the informed consent form but still wants to proceed with treatment. What should the PT do?

Answer: Decline to treat until written consent is obtained and document the situation

Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement; treatment should not proceed without proper consent, and the situation must be documented.

Which Universal Precaution guideline applies when a PT is treating a patient with an open wound?

Answer: Gloves must be worn when contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated

Standard/Universal Precautions require gloves whenever contact with blood or body fluids is anticipated, regardless of infection status.

A PT documents treatment in a patient's medical record and later realizes an error was made. What is the correct way to amend the record?

Answer: Draw a single line through the error, write 'error,' initial and date it, then add the correct entry

The correct procedure is to draw a single line through the error, note 'error,' initial and date it, preserving the original entry's legibility.

A PT receives a referral to treat a patient for a condition outside the PT's area of competence. What is the most ethical course of action?

Answer: Decline the referral and direct the patient to a qualified provider

Practicing outside one's competence violates the APTA Code of Ethics; the PT should refer the patient to a practitioner with appropriate expertise.

A patient with a pacemaker is referred for interferential current therapy. What is the most appropriate action?

Answer: Contact the referring physician and withhold treatment pending clearance

Electrical stimulation is contraindicated over or near a pacemaker; physician clearance must be obtained before proceeding.

During a home health visit, a PT notices the patient's home environment poses significant fall hazards. What is the priority action?

Answer: Address the safety hazards with the patient and caregiver immediately and document recommendations

Addressing and documenting environmental fall hazards immediately is a core PT responsibility in home health to prevent injury.

A PT working in a school setting identifies a child who may have developmental delays beyond the current referral. What is the best action?

Answer: Notify the parents and recommend appropriate specialist referral

PTs are obligated to communicate relevant clinical findings to caregivers and recommend referral to appropriate specialists.

Which is the correct sequence for hand hygiene in a clinical setting when hands are not visibly soiled?

Answer: Alcohol-based hand rub applied until hands are dry

When hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred hand hygiene method per CDC guidelines.

A patient shares protected health information with the PT that they do not want shared with family members. Under HIPAA, what must the PT do?

Answer: Honor the patient's request and restrict disclosure to family members

HIPAA grants patients the right to restrict disclosure of their PHI, including to family members, and providers must honor that request.

A PT observes that the medical record contains a physician's order with unclear dosage instructions relevant to the patient's rehabilitation. What should the PT do?

Answer: Clarify the order directly with the prescribing physician before proceeding

Ambiguous orders must be clarified directly with the prescribing physician to ensure patient safety before proceeding.

A PT is asked by their employer to see more patients per hour than is safely manageable. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Raise the concern formally with the supervisor, citing patient safety standards

PTs have an ethical obligation to advocate for patient safety and must formally address staffing concerns that compromise care quality.

Which of the following best describes the PT's responsibility when delegating care to a PTA?

Answer: The PT retains supervisory responsibility and accountability for the delegated care

The PT retains professional and legal responsibility for the overall care, even when tasks are delegated to a PTA.

A patient reports that a different PT touched them inappropriately during a previous session. What is the correct action?

Answer: Document the report and follow facility and mandatory reporting protocols

Reports of inappropriate conduct must be documented and reported per facility protocol and applicable laws, protecting patient safety.

A PT is treating a patient who has a latex allergy listed in their chart. Which action is most appropriate before beginning treatment?

Answer: Confirm all equipment and supplies are latex-free before starting treatment

A documented latex allergy requires removing all latex-containing items from the treatment environment to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction.

What does the principle of 'beneficence' require of a PT in clinical practice?

Answer: Acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their well-being

Beneficence requires actively promoting the patient's well-being and acting in their best interest.

A PT discovers that a patient has been double-billed for services. What is the most appropriate action?

Answer: Document the finding and report it to the appropriate billing or compliance department

PTs have a professional responsibility to report billing errors or fraud to the appropriate compliance department.