NEHA/REHS Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest

NEHA/REHS Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest How does the Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines the mission of public health? - As "fulfilling society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy". What are the 10 Essential Public Health Services (ES)? - 1. Monitor health 2. Diagnose and investigate 3. Inform, educate, and empower 4. Mobilize community partnerships 5. Develop policies and plans 6. Enforce laws and regulations 7. Link people to needed personal health services 8. Assure a competent workforce 9. Evaluate 10. Research What are three forces that may help shape the future of the environmental health profession? - 1. Climate change and resulting ecosystem changes and natural disasters 2. Population growth and the global rise in standard of living resulting in faster deterioration of the natural environment 3. Novel or pharmaceutical-resistant pathogens What does AREC stand for? - anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control Compliance and enforcement intervention strategies can be divided into what two groups? - 1. Those designed to achieve immediate on-site correction. 2. Those designed to achieve long-term compliance. What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)? - A standard operation procedure (SOP) is a written process that provides consistent guidance to employees within an organization as to how they should properly complete a given task in a uniform manner. It provides detailed steps and details the tools necessary to complete the task. What is Malfeasance? - The doing of an act that is wrongful and that is known to be wholly unauthorized by the official. What is Misfeasance? - The doing of an authorized act in an unauthorized manner. What is Nonfeasance? - The failure to perform an official duty without sufficient excuse. What are the two main types of epidemiological studies that can be used in an epidemiological investigation? - Descriptive and Analytical. Active Immunity - Results when exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to that disease. Active immunity can be acquired through natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity Passive Immunity - When a person is given antibodies to a disease rather than producing them through his or her own immune system. Agent (biology/epi) - A factor (e.g., a microorganism or chemical substance) or form of energy whose presence, excessive presence, or in the case of deficiency diseases, relative absence is essential for the occurrence of a disease or other adverse health outcome. Mode of Transmission - The manner in which an agent is transmitted from its reservoir to a susceptible host. Carrier - A person or animal that harbors the infectious agent for a disease and can transmit it to others, but does not demonstrate signs of the disease. A carrier can be asymptomatic (never indicate signs of the disease) or can display signs of the disease only during the incubation period, convalescence, or postconvalescence. The period of being a carrier can be short (a transient carrier) or long (a chronic carrier). Morbidity - (disease) Any departure, subjective or objective, from a state of physiological or psychological health and well-being. Mortality - Death Demographic Information - Personal characteristics of a person or group (e.g., age, sex, race/ethnicity, residence, and occupation) demographic information is used in descriptive epidemiology to characterize patients or populations. Pandemic - An epidemic occurring over a widespread area (multiple countries or continents) and usually affecting a substantial proportion of the population. Endemic - The constant presence of an agent or health condition within a given geographic area or population; can also refer to the usual prevalence of an agent or condition. Epidemic - The occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a particular period. Usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be related to one another in some way. Frequency - The amount or number of occurrences of an attribute or health outcome among a population. Portal of Entry - A pathway into the host that gives an agent access to tissue that will allow it to multiply or act. Prevalence - The number or proportion of cases or events or attributes among a given population. Host - A person or other living organism that is susceptible to or harbors an infectious agent under natural conditions. Reservoir - The habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies, which can include humans, animals, or the environment. Descriptive Epidemiology - The aspect of epidemiology concerned with organizing and summarizing data regarding the persons affected (e.g., the characteristics of those who became ill), time (e.g., when they become ill), and place (e.g., where they might have been exposed to the cause of illness). Applied Epidemiology - The application or practice of epidemiology to control and prevent health problems. Lag Phase - The period of time between the introduction of a microorganism into a culture medium and the time it begins to increase exponentially Physical factors - Examples include geology and climate, harmful substances, such as air pollution or proximity to toxic sites (the focus of classic environmental epidemiology); access to various health-related resources (e.g., healthy or unhealthy foods, recreational resources, medical care); and community design and the "built environment" (e.g., land use mix, street connectivity, transportation systems). Log phase (growth phase) - The period of growth of a population of cells (as of a microorganism) in a culture medium during which numbers increase exponentially and which is represented by a part of the growth curve that is a straight line segment if the logarithm of numbers is plotted against time Equal Protection - A right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights requiring the comparable treatment of people and situations. It guides governmental actions in not burdening or benefiting people differentially without reasonable grounds. Due Process - Refers to the necessary procedural requirements that government agencies must follow to act against parties in violation of applicable laws. Ordinances - Laws enacted by local elected officials, such as in municipalities and counties. Regulations (or rules) - Laws enacted by regulatory agencies, also known as administrative agencies, at the local, state, or federal levels. License (or permit) - Gives permission to engage in a legally restricted activity. Litigation - Generally considered a civil action to settle a dispute in a court of law. Administrative Hearings - Informal and formal, allow both parties the opportunity to express and clarify their positions. Administrative Order (enforcement/abatement order) - A legal document from a state or federal agency directing an individual, business, or agency to correct or stop an activity. Agent (legal term) - A person authorized by another. Persons in charge are usually agents, and the law generally recognizes that notices, orders, and other requirements can be made of agents with as much binding force as if the action were given to the owner directly. Embargo - A legal order prohibiting the removal or use of something. It may entail placing a notice or tag on the object (as occurs when fish are embargoed because they are known to contain a heavy metal in their bodies that would endanger the public if eaten). Seizure order - legal permission to confiscate, retain, and/or dispose of something Condemnation - A legal judgment that finds a structure or property too dangerous or unfit for human use. Public Nuisances - Interfere with the public's ability to pursue comfort, health, or quiet. Nuisance abatement - A legal order to stop such hindering or annoying activities (aka public nuisances). Civil law - Involves individuals or groups acting in a nonpublic capacity in which some form of compensation is sought and liability, not guilt, is established. Prohibitory injunction - An order to cease and desist a particular action. Mandatory injunction - an order to take action, such as applying for a permit, changing a procedure, reporting an activity, or correcting a violation. Misdemeanors - Less serious than felonies and are most often punishable by fine or imprisonment. Torts - Civil wrongs, injuries to an individual's person, property, or reputation. Informed consent - Lessens the professional's liability when the risk of a pending activity is explained. (Ex. If it is observed that a restaurant's refrigerated meat is close to, but still within, the time and temperature limits allowed by law, the REHS/RS will explain that it is approaching a hazardous condition. The manager must then determine whether to destroy the food or continue to use it. In this case, if the manager takes the risk of serving the food, the REHS/RS has already given him an informed consent.) Statutes of limitation - Establish the maximum length of time that a person can be sued or charged after committing a legal violation, including criminal violations, breaches of contract, and torts in civil law. Search Warrant - Must be obtained from a court based on probable cause that a criminal violation exists, which is stated in a sworn affidavit. This warrant authorizes the officer to search for and seize any property that is evidence of the commission of a crime, contraband, the fruits of crime, or things otherwise criminally possessed. Administrative (or inspection) warrants - Special type of warrant, reduces issuance requirements from probable cause to justifiable cause that an inspection is needed. With this type of warrant, it is not necessary to seize any objects or bring them back to court. The inspector must only note relevant conditions that are present. What should an inspector do first when entering an establishment? - Identify themselves, show their credentials, and state the purpose of their inspection.