Quality Assurance and Legal Issues in Healthcare 2 use KNOWLEDGE DRILL 2-3: TRUE/FALSE ACTIVITY The following statements are all false, Circle the one or two words that make the statement false, and write the correct word(s) that would make the statement true. 1. Documentation can be used for legal purposes if it is recent and includes only standard symbols. senons 2. A sentinel event (SE) is any unfavorable event that is unexpected and results in Inremarkable or minor physical or psychological injury. 3. You must use at least four ways to identify patients when providing laboratory services. 4. A CAP-certified laboratory also meets Medicare/Medicaid standards because CLIA grants reciprocity (muti exchange of privileges) to CAP in the area of laboratory regulations mspection 5. CLsr’s mission is to develop clinical and laboratory programs and promote their Curriculun worldwide. ale 6. Quality indicators must be measurable, well defined, subjective, and nonspecific. 7. Instructions on how to prepare a patient for testing can be found by checking the laboratory’s procedure manual. 8. The Joint Commission moved toward stricter patient ID requirements with their revision of CLSI standa 2009. 9. Phlebotomists must “actively involve” nurses in their identification process during any specimen collec 0. OSHA regulations require every business to have an infection control manual. 1. An IQCP form is to be completed when an occupational injury or exposure occurs. 2. Patient confidentiality is protected under state law. 3. The most common civil actions in healthcare are based on criminal law. . A minor is anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years. The patient’s record is a concise documentation of the medical care given.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here are the corrected statements and the explanations for why they were false:
- False: Documentation can be used for legal purposes if it is recent and includes only standard symbols.
Correction: Documentation can be used for legal purposes if it is accurate, complete, and properly dated and follows clear, concise, and professional language.
Explanation: For documentation to be legally defensible, it must be accurate, complete, and timely, with clear and professional language. Using standard symbols is not sufficient if the documentation lacks clarity or completeness, which are critical in a legal context. - False: A sentinel event (SE) is any unfavorable event that is unexpected and results in remarkable or minor physical or psychological injury.
Correction: A sentinel event (SE) is any unfavorable event that is unexpected and results in serious injury or death.
Explanation: Sentinel events are typically those that result in significant harm, such as serious physical injury, psychological injury, or death. They are unexpected events that signal a need for immediate investigation and response to prevent future occurrences. - False: You must use at least four ways to identify patients when providing laboratory services.
Correction: You must use two identifiers to identify patients when providing laboratory services.
Explanation: The use of two patient identifiers (such as the patient’s name and date of birth) is a standard practice to reduce the risk of errors in patient identification, in line with healthcare safety guidelines. - False: A CAP-certified laboratory also meets Medicare/Medicaid standards because CLIA grants reciprocity (mutual exchange of privileges) to CAP in the area of laboratory regulations and inspection.
Correction: A CAP-certified laboratory also meets Medicare/Medicaid standards because CLIA certification grants reciprocity to CAP in the area of laboratory regulations and inspection.
Explanation: The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulate laboratory testing in the United States. CLIA certification is the standard required to receive Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. CAP (College of American Pathologists) certification alone does not automatically meet all CLIA standards. - False: CLSI’s mission is to develop clinical and laboratory programs and promote their curriculum worldwide.
Correction: CLSI’s mission is to develop clinical and laboratory standards and promote their use worldwide.
Explanation: The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) develops standards and guidelines for laboratory practices, not curriculum. Its mission is to ensure the accuracy and quality of laboratory testing worldwide. - False: Quality indicators must be measurable, well defined, subjective, and nonspecific.
Correction: Quality indicators must be measurable, well-defined, objective, and specific.
Explanation: Quality indicators should be objective (not based on personal feelings) and specific to ensure they can effectively measure and track performance and outcomes in healthcare settings. - False: Instructions on how to prepare a patient for testing can be found by checking the laboratory’s procedure manual.
Correction: Instructions on how to prepare a patient for testing can be found by checking the laboratory’s test catalog or procedure manual.
Explanation: Preparation instructions are typically found in a test catalog that provides detailed information about specific tests, including patient preparation requirements, sample collection, and handling. - False: The Joint Commission moved toward stricter patient ID requirements with their revision of CLSI standards in 2009.
Correction: The Joint Commission moved toward stricter patient ID requirements with their revision of National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), not CLSI standards, in 2009.
Explanation: The National Patient Safety Goals set by The Joint Commission focus on improving patient safety, including the need for accurate patient identification. - False: Phlebotomists must “actively involve” nurses in their identification process during any specimen collection.
Correction: Phlebotomists must independently verify patient identification before specimen collection.
Explanation: While collaboration is important, phlebotomists are responsible for verifying patient identity before specimen collection, in accordance with patient safety protocols. - False: OSHA regulations require every business to have an infection control manual.
Correction: OSHA regulations require healthcare facilities to have an infection control program.
Explanation: While OSHA does have regulations related to infection control, it specifically mandates that healthcare employers have an infection control program to minimize exposure to infectious diseases. - False: An IQCP form is to be completed when an occupational injury or exposure occurs.
Correction: An IQCP (Individualized Quality Control Plan) form is used to ensure proper testing procedures in the laboratory, not related to occupational injuries or exposures.
Explanation: An IQCP is a quality control measure used in laboratories for specific testing procedures, while occupational injuries would require different reporting forms, such as OSHA injury reports. - False: Patient confidentiality is protected under state law.
Correction: Patient confidentiality is protected under federal law (HIPAA) and state law.
Explanation: While state laws also protect patient confidentiality, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that sets standards for the protection of health information. - False: The most common civil actions in healthcare are based on criminal law.
Correction: The most common civil actions in healthcare are based on tort law.
Explanation: Most civil lawsuits in healthcare are based on tort law, such as negligence, malpractice, and wrongful death, rather than criminal law. - False: A minor is anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years.
Correction: A minor is anyone who has not reached the age of majority, which is typically 18 years, but it can vary by jurisdiction.
Explanation: In many jurisdictions, the legal age of majority is 18, but in some places, it could be different for specific purposes. - False: The patient’s record is a concise documentation of the medical care given.
Correction: The patient’s record is a comprehensive documentation of the medical care given.
Explanation: A patient’s medical record should contain comprehensive and detailed documentation about their care, including diagnosis, treatment, progress notes, and other relevant health information.