Case Closed Volume 4 CME — test questions

Improper performance

1. Common allegations in lawsuits alleging improper performance often include:

   1. failure to monitor or examine a patient
   2. failure to recognize symptoms
   3. failure to supervise non-physician personnel
   4. all of the above
    
   
   

2. Under the concept of vicarious liability, physicians may be held legally responsible for the negligent acts of their employees.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

3. When reviewing reports generated by their orders (lab or imaging studies), physicians are advised to:

   1. review the content of the report and act on the information in a timely manner
   2. determine how best to communicate the results to the patient
   3. initial and date the report to document that it has been reviewed
   4. all of the above
    
   
   

4. Complete and accurate notes are more likely to result if documentation is completed soon after a patient encounter.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

Communication errors

5. The following are common factors in claims involving allegations of failure to communicate:

   1. test results are not communicated to the ordering physician in a timely manner
   2. the findings of one physician are not clearly communicated to other physicians caring for the patient
   3. specialists may not receive all pertinent patient records from the referring physician
   4. a and b
   5. all of the above
    
   
   

6. Noncompliance with treatment plans may be an indication that the patient does not fully understand what is being requested and why.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

Medical record errors

7. When a claim is filed against a physician, all medical records and documentation regarding the care of the patient become central to the defense.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

8. A complete list of Texas Medical Board (TMB) rules regarding medical records can be found at the TMB web site.

   1. true
   2. false
    
   
   

Failure to follow up

9. To avoid allegations of failure to follow up, physicians can:

   1. obtain a complete medical history and perform a thorough exam
   2. have a system in place to track referrals
   3. develop protocols to follow up on cancellations and no-shows
   4. all of the above
    
   
   

10. Documenting a patient's non-compliant behavior in the medical record may help to defend physicians against claims alleging failure to follow up.

    1. true
    2. false
     
    
    

11. The following entities have established guidelines for the delegation of health care tasks to qualified non-physicians caring for patients:

    1. the Texas Department of Insurance
    2. the Texas Medical Board
    3. the Texas Physician Assistant Board
    4. b and c
    5. all of the above
     
    
    

Diagnostic errors

12. When a patient is cared for by multiple physicians, communication between these physicians can:

    1. help clarify who is responsible for each aspect of patient care
    2. be time consuming — physicians need to spend their time treating patients, not talking to each other
    3. cause extra work for the physician's office staff
    4. only be accomplished through the medical record
     
    
    

13. Incomplete documentation can result in errors in treatment and diagnosis, and can undermine the entire clinical team.

    1. true
    2. false
     
    
    

14. Which of the following steps can make a claim alleging failure to obtain informed consent more defensible:

    1. conducting the informed consent discussion in the office before the procedure
    2. using consent forms that outline the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure
    3. ensuring the consent form was signed by the patient and the signature was witnessed by another staff member
    4. all of the above
     
    
    

15. Negligence is defined as the failure to exercise ordinary care, that is, failure to do that which a physician of ordinary prudence would have done under the same or similar circumstances, or doing that which a physician of ordinary prudence would not have done under the same or similar circumstances.

    1. true
    2. false
     
    
    

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Date: 05-17-2012

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