RHS Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

Question 1

What does the term 'sentinel event' refer to in healthcare quality improvement?

Accepted Answer

An unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury

Answer

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof, requiring immediate investigation and response.

Question 2

Which organization developed and annually updates the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs)?

Accepted Answer

The Joint Commission

Answer

The Joint Commission developed the National Patient Safety Goals and updates them annually to address specific areas of concern in patient safety across accredited facilities.

Question 3

A root cause analysis (RCA) in healthcare is primarily used to:

Accepted Answer

Identify underlying system factors that contributed to an adverse event

Answer

RCA is a systematic process for identifying basic or contributing causal system factors behind an adverse event in order to prevent recurrence.

Question 4

The Swiss Cheese Model of accident causation in patient safety was developed by:

Accepted Answer

James Reason

Answer

James Reason developed the Swiss Cheese Model, which illustrates how multiple layers of defense can simultaneously fail, allowing errors to reach and harm patients.

Question 5

What does PDSA stand for in the quality improvement cycle used in healthcare?

Accepted Answer

Plan, Do, Study, Act

Answer

PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) is a four-step iterative improvement cycle used to test changes on a small scale and learn from results before broader implementation.

RHS - Registered Health Specialist Certification Practice Test

RHS - Registered Health Specialist Certification Practice Test

RHS Quality Improvement & Patient Safety