If a patient misses a scheduled appointment, the responsibility to reschedule rests solely with the patient.

True

False

When a physician attempts to contact patients who miss scheduled appointments or tests, a "reasonable effort" on the physician’s part depends on which of the following?

A. 

The clinical importance of the test or visit.

B. 

The severity of the medical condition.

C. 

The risk associated with the missed appointment.

D. 

All of the above.

A 62-year-old male patient, a chronic smoker, complains of shortness of breath. His physician orders a chest X-ray, and the result – which is abnormal – is faxed to the physician’s office. A member of the office staff places the result in the patient’s medical record without first showing it to the doctor, who never sees it. The patient is later diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. How could this serious mistake have been prevented?

A. 

Since potential human error will always be a factor, there’s really nothing that could have been done.

B. 

The physician could have told the staff that this kind of error would result in job termination.

C. 

The physician could have told the patient it was his responsibility to call back for the X-ray result.

D. 

The physician could have had his own separate lab and X-ray “tickler” system in place, to ensure that he would have been looking out for the X-ray result.

Even if the X-ray had come back to the physician’s office marked "NORMAL," the result should have been shown to the physician under which of the following circumstances?

A. 

The physician should see results in all cases.

B. 

A long-term patient was involved.

C. 

The patient seemed like the litigious type.

D. 

The physician was considering referring the patient to another doctor.

If a patient misses a scheduled appointment, nothing needs to be added to the patient’s medical record until he or she reschedules and comes to that appointment.

True

False

Which of the following is the best way to ensure that patients go for lab tests?

A. 

Hint that you might not continue treating them if they don’t get the tests.

B. 

Educate them about the seriousness of why you’re ordering the tests.

C. 

Make them promise they’ll go for the tests.

D. 

Try to instill guilt in them for all your work on their behalf.

Liability risks connected with diagnostic testing include which of the following?

A. 

Failure to receive test results.

B. 

Failure to note test results.

C. 

Failure to follow up with patients whose results indicate that followup is needed.

D. 

All of the above.

The daughter of an elderly patient stops you in the hallway of the hospital and screams, "No one here is watching my mother closely enough – she’s getting more confused every day!" After calming down the daughter, which of the following actions should you take?

A. 

No action is needed. Some people are never satisfied no matter what you do.

B. 

Write a note in the patient’s medical record stating that the daughter is behaving in a belligerent manner.

C. 

Contact the rest of the healthcare team to tell them about the daughter’s dissatisfaction.

D. 

Ask the daughter to document the dates and times when the patient is inadequately observed, and to give you the documentation.

The fourth leading cause of medical malpractice claims is failure to supervise/monitor care.

True

False

Examples of follow-up tracking systems that can be effective include the following:

A. 

Log book

B. 

File care "tickler" system

C. 

Computer software system

D. 

All of the above.