Risk Assessment & Management Flashcards

Falls are the most common patient safety incident in radiology. Which action is most effective in preventing patient falls in the radiography department?

Answer: Performing fall risk assessment on arrival and implementing appropriate precautions (assistance, non-slip footwear, call light)

A structured fall risk assessment followed by individualized precautions (mobility assistance, non-slip footwear, call lights, supervision) is the most evidence-based approach to preventing patient falls in the radiology department.

What is the primary purpose of completing an incident report following an adverse event in radiology?

Answer: To document the event for risk management, quality improvement, and prevention of recurrence

Incident reports are primarily tools for quality improvement and risk management — documenting adverse events objectively to analyze causes, identify system failures, and implement preventive measures. They are not intended to assign blame.

A patient on a stretcher needs to be transferred to the radiographic table. The safest transfer technique involves:

Answer: Using a minimum of two staff with a transfer board or sheet, following proper body mechanics

Safe patient transfers require at least two staff members using proper body mechanics and assistive devices (transfer board, slide sheet) to minimize injury to both patient and staff. OSHA guidelines discourage manual lifting without assistive equipment.

When a patient undergoing a contrast injection via IV catheter reports pain and swelling at the injection site, the radiographer should immediately:

Answer: Stop the injection, assess for contrast extravasation, and notify the radiologist

Pain and swelling at the injection site indicates possible contrast extravasation — leakage of contrast into surrounding tissue. The injection must be stopped immediately and the radiologist notified for assessment and management.

What is the OSHA required action when a radiographer sustains a needlestick injury?

Answer: Report immediately to the occupational health department, document the exposure, and follow the facility's exposure control plan

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires immediate reporting of needlestick injuries, documentation, source patient testing (with consent), and follow-up according to the facility's Exposure Control Plan.

The 'Swiss cheese model' of accident causation in healthcare suggests that adverse events occur when:

Answer: Multiple layers of defenses each have holes that align, allowing an error to cause patient harm

James Reason's Swiss cheese model illustrates that safety systems have multiple layers (like slices of Swiss cheese), each with gaps (holes). Accidents occur when holes in successive layers align, allowing a hazard to pass through all defenses and reach the patient.