Safety and Compliance Flashcards
7 cards from real PCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Safety and Compliance flashcards as text
A patient using a walker reports the rubber tips are worn smooth. What is the physiotherapist's priority action?
Answer: Replace the walker tips before continuing ambulation
Worn rubber tips reduce friction and significantly increase fall risk, so they must be replaced before continued use.
Under HIPAA, which action by a physiotherapist constitutes a privacy breach?
Answer: Faxing records to a patient's specialist without authorization
Transmitting identifiable health information to a third party without patient authorization violates HIPAA privacy rules.
A physiotherapist notices a colleague documenting treatments that were not performed. The best initial course of action is to:
Answer: Report the concern through the facility's incident reporting system
Fraudulent documentation must be reported through proper channels to protect patient safety and maintain professional integrity.
When using electrical stimulation near a patient's cardiac pacemaker, the physiotherapist should:
Answer: Avoid electrical stimulation in the thoracic region and consult the cardiologist
Electrical modalities can interfere with pacemaker function; the cardiologist must be consulted and thoracic application avoided.
Which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when performing wound debridement in a clinical physiotherapy setting?
Answer: Gloves, mask, and protective eyewear
Wound debridement risks exposure to blood-borne pathogens through splatter, requiring gloves, mask, and eye protection.
A physiotherapy aide is about to transfer a bariatric patient without a mechanical lift. The physiotherapist should:
Answer: Stop the transfer and obtain the appropriate bariatric lift equipment
Manual transfers of bariatric patients without mechanical aids expose both staff and patients to serious injury risk.
A physiotherapist discovers that a patient's informed consent form was signed by a family member who does not hold medical power of attorney. The correct action is to:
Answer: Obtain consent from the legally authorized representative before continuing treatment
Valid informed consent requires signature from the patient or their legally designated proxy; unauthorized signatures are not legally sufficient.