Measuring Changes with PDSA Cycles
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1) In regard to health disparities around the world, which of the following statements is most
true?
a) Inequitable medical care is the primary driver of health disparities.
b) Where a child is born significantly affects his or her life expectancy.
c) The root causes of health disparities are complex.
d) B and C - CORRECT ANSWER - d) B and C
2) Which of the following is a trend in modern health care across industrialized nations?
a) Providers are becoming more specialized.
b) The disease burden is shifting toward acute conditions.
c) There is growing demand for complicated procedures.
d) A and C - CORRECT ANSWER - d) A and C
3) Which of the following countries has had a relatively inexpensive universal health insurance
system for more than 50 years?
a) Chile
b) Germany
c) Japan
d) The US - CORRECT ANSWER - c) Japan
4) Which of the following statements is true:
a) During the past 15 years, the cost of care has been a growing problem for many developed
nations.
, b) During the past 15 years, most countries around the world have used similar approaches to
improve health care quality and access.
c) Among industrialized nations, there is a perfect correlation between quality rankings and the
number of dollars spent on health care.
d) All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER - a) During the past 15 years, the cost of care
has been a growing problem for many developed nations.
5) Which of the following statements is a reason for improving the US health care system?
a) The US has fallen behind in biomedical innovation.
b) The US lacks the means to measure health care quality and access.
c) The US government and citizens alike are struggling to afford the cost of care.
d) All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER - c) The US government and citizens alike are
struggling to afford the cost of care.
1) Why was it important for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to develop its six aims for health
care?
a) So that accreditation organizations would be better able to evaluate hospitals
b) So that health care organizations would have a better idea of what they needed to improve
c) So that lawmakers could focus their attention upon specific areas when working on health
care reform
d) All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER - b) So that health care organizations would
have a better idea of what they needed to improve
Michael S., a 49-year-old factory worker, is brought to the hospital after developing chest pain at
work. He is quickly diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). However, he
waits almost two hours to get to the catheterization lab and have his blocked coronary artery
opened. Ultimately, he suffers permanent damage to his heart.
2) Which of the IOM aims has this hospital FAILED to meet?
a) Equitable
b) Safe
c) Effective
, d) Efficient
e) Timely
f) Patient-centered - CORRECT ANSWER - e) timely
3) The hospital where Michael is recovering reviews its patient satisfaction survey results in
order to improve its care and patient outcomes. Leaders poring over the data note that 90 to 100
percent of patients rate staff as "excellent" in the following categories: listening, answering
questions, being friendly and courteous, and giving good advice based on specific needs and
preferences. Which aim is the hospital generally achieving?
a) Equitable
b) Safe
c) Effective
d) Efficient
e) Timely
f) Patient-centered - CORRECT ANSWER - f) patient-centered
4) Which of the following improvement efforts is the best example of increasing the
effectiveness of care?
a) Decreasing adverse drug events by having a pharmacist on rounds in the intensive care unit
b) Shortening wait times at a clinic by allowing patients to self-register on a computer in the
waiting room
c) Improving the percent of clinic patients achieving their goal blood pressure by instituting a
series of reminders for providers about evidence-based processes
d) Instituting quarterly focus groups of patients seen in the emergency department to better
identify patient concerns - CORRECT ANSWER - c) Improving the percent of clinic
patients achieving their goal blood pressure by instituting a series of reminders for providers
about evidence-based processes
5) Which of the following improvement efforts is the best example of increasing the equity of
care?