Quality Assurance & Improvement Flashcards

Which benchmark is used by the AASM to define the minimum acceptable total sleep time (TST) for a technically adequate diagnostic PSG?

Answer: At least 2 hours of total sleep time

The AASM specifies that a diagnostic PSG should capture at least 2 hours of total sleep time to be considered technically adequate for scoring.

A night technologist discovers mid-study that the SpO2 signal has been lost and cannot be recovered. What is the BEST course of action?

Answer: Attempt to reapply the sensor; if still unavailable, document all corrective attempts and notify the reading physician

Attempting to restore the signal first preserves study integrity, and thorough documentation allows the interpreting physician to appropriately qualify the report.

Which QA initiative BEST addresses variation in patient preparation quality across a multi-site sleep center network?

Answer: Standardize patient preparation checklists and conduct cross-site audits to ensure compliance

Standardized checklists combined with audits create consistent processes across sites and identify sites where the standard is not being followed.

What does an oxygen desaturation index (ODI) quality flag on an HSAT report MOST likely indicate for QA purposes?

Answer: The SpO2 signal had excessive artifact, making the ODI unreliable

An ODI quality flag in HSAT analysis typically indicates that the oximetry signal contained enough artifact to compromise the reliability of the desaturation index calculation.

A sleep lab tracks its 'repeat study rate' as a QA metric. A rising repeat study rate MOST likely indicates which quality problem?

Answer: Technical quality failures producing non-diagnostic first studies

An increasing repeat study rate suggests that first studies are failing to produce usable diagnostic data, pointing to technical quality problems in acquisition or setup.

Which of the following BEST illustrates the concept of 'benchmarking' in a sleep lab quality program?

Answer: Comparing the lab's study adequacy rate to AASM-published national averages or peer-lab data

Benchmarking specifically involves comparing your performance against external standards or peer data to understand how your outcomes relate to the broader field.

A sleep lab's QA program identifies that split-night study conversion criteria are inconsistently applied by different technologists. What is the MOST appropriate corrective document to create?

Answer: A standardized split-night conversion protocol with clear, objective criteria and a decision flowchart

A standardized protocol with objective criteria and a decision flowchart removes ambiguity and ensures all technologists apply the same decision logic for split-night conversion.