RPSGT Quality Assurance & Improvement 5

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

At least 2 hours of total sleep time

Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The SpO2 signal had excessive artifact, making the ODI unreliable

Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Technical quality failures producing non-diagnostic first studies

Answer

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.

RPSGT Exam Practice Test

RPSGT Exam Practice Test

RPSGT Quality Assurance & Improvement 5