CPHRM Clinical/Patient Safety Exam Prep
Questions with Verified Correct Answers
Outline and discuss the steps of the risk management process
It involves key 5 steps:
1. identify and analyze loss exposures. The risk analysis helps determines the severity of loss.
2. Risk techniques: risk control (internal controls in place, like P&Ps or education and
training, prevention or mitigation of the impact of losses) and risk financing (payment of
unavoidable losses).
3. Select those risk management techniques that are best suited to manage the specific needs.
4. Implement selected techniques/internal controls.
5. Evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the chosen techniques in managing the identified
risk.
Describe a captive insurance company
Often referred as a captive, owned and controlled by its insureds. It is a corporation created in
order to insure the risks of its owners, while providing revenue to the owners from premium
payments.
Captive insurance provides great flexibility such as multiple lines of coverage or multi-level
corporate structure.
The form, structure, and ownership of captives can be created in variations and combinations
to meet the control, regulation, and coverage goals of the insureds. A captive is typically
subject to a greater scrutiny by the org's governing body given that it is funded by the org.
Because of this, the risk management function is elevated, with a higher emphasis placed on
controlling losses for the org.
Discuss the Joint Commission (TJC)'s national patient safety goals
,Patient safety goals:
1. identify patients correctly - use at least 2 identifiers.
2. Improve staff communication - get important test results to the right providers on time.
3. Use medicines safely - label all meds, accurately record the patient's current medications,
and take extra care with blood thinners.
4. Use alarms safely - ensure alarms on medical equipment can be heard.
5. Prevent infection - improved hand cleaning/hygiene.
6. Identify patient safety risk - reduce the risk of patient suicide.
7. Prevent mistakes in surgery - verify correct surgery/patient/body part, mark the surgical
site correctly, and take a time-out before starting surgery.
Discuss common types of legal requests for info with which the risk management
professional may be served
Subpoena duces tecum - written doc that requires a person to appear at a particular time and
place to give testimony as a witness and/or bring with them any documents to produce
evidence. It may be for a deposition or for a trial.
"Duces tecum" in Latin means, "you shall bring with you" the evidence.
Court order - legal doc to command a person to perform a specific act, prohibit them from
taking a certain action, or sets court dates (e.g., pleadings, complaints and discovery
requests).
Petition - is a pleading or formal request calling for the redress of a wrong or redress of
grievances. In healthcare, common petition is a claim for damages resulting from medical
malpractice.
,Discuss the therapeutic privilege and compulsory treatment exceptions to be informed
consent process
The therapeutic privilege exception - only applies in narrow circumstances in which a
determination is made that disclosing certain information would be psychologically harmful
to the patient.
A thorough medical assessment of the patient's condition must be completed and
documented.
The compulsory treatment exception - provides that the greater good and health of the
community outweigh the rights of the individual. For example, COVID pandemic is the
institution of mandatory masking requirements without allowing individuals the opportunity
to withhold consent.
Identify some changes in healthcare in recent years that have increased risk for the
healthcare organization (part 1 of 2)
Event: increased regulatory oversight.
impact: CMS, TJC, and state health agencies, which require compliance from healthcare
organizations.
Event: legislative changes including healthcare reform.
Impact: changes to financial reimbursement for services and access to services.
Event: increased emphasis on patient safety
Impact: expectation that orgs take proactive measures to protect patient safety.
, Event: Implementation of EMR.
Impact: risk to continuity of information, cybersecurity, and protection of health information.
Event: changes in workforce.
Impact: shortage, including an aging workforce.
Event: Medicare fraud and abuse.
Impact: increased gov scrutiny to protect Medicare funds.
Event: Workplace Violence.
Impact: increased prevalence of violence against healthcare providers.
Identify some changes in healthcare in recent years that have increased risk for the
healthcare organization (part 2 of 2)
Event: COVID pandemic
Impact: resource shortages, health risks to providers, and financial losses.
Event: tort reform.
Impact: attempting to reduce the number and impact of medical malpractice claims.
Event: access to capital.
Impact: changes in financial stability and viability.
Event: aging patient population and increased prevalence of chronic disease.
Impact: increased use of limited resources.
Questions with Verified Correct Answers
Outline and discuss the steps of the risk management process
It involves key 5 steps:
1. identify and analyze loss exposures. The risk analysis helps determines the severity of loss.
2. Risk techniques: risk control (internal controls in place, like P&Ps or education and
training, prevention or mitigation of the impact of losses) and risk financing (payment of
unavoidable losses).
3. Select those risk management techniques that are best suited to manage the specific needs.
4. Implement selected techniques/internal controls.
5. Evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the chosen techniques in managing the identified
risk.
Describe a captive insurance company
Often referred as a captive, owned and controlled by its insureds. It is a corporation created in
order to insure the risks of its owners, while providing revenue to the owners from premium
payments.
Captive insurance provides great flexibility such as multiple lines of coverage or multi-level
corporate structure.
The form, structure, and ownership of captives can be created in variations and combinations
to meet the control, regulation, and coverage goals of the insureds. A captive is typically
subject to a greater scrutiny by the org's governing body given that it is funded by the org.
Because of this, the risk management function is elevated, with a higher emphasis placed on
controlling losses for the org.
Discuss the Joint Commission (TJC)'s national patient safety goals
,Patient safety goals:
1. identify patients correctly - use at least 2 identifiers.
2. Improve staff communication - get important test results to the right providers on time.
3. Use medicines safely - label all meds, accurately record the patient's current medications,
and take extra care with blood thinners.
4. Use alarms safely - ensure alarms on medical equipment can be heard.
5. Prevent infection - improved hand cleaning/hygiene.
6. Identify patient safety risk - reduce the risk of patient suicide.
7. Prevent mistakes in surgery - verify correct surgery/patient/body part, mark the surgical
site correctly, and take a time-out before starting surgery.
Discuss common types of legal requests for info with which the risk management
professional may be served
Subpoena duces tecum - written doc that requires a person to appear at a particular time and
place to give testimony as a witness and/or bring with them any documents to produce
evidence. It may be for a deposition or for a trial.
"Duces tecum" in Latin means, "you shall bring with you" the evidence.
Court order - legal doc to command a person to perform a specific act, prohibit them from
taking a certain action, or sets court dates (e.g., pleadings, complaints and discovery
requests).
Petition - is a pleading or formal request calling for the redress of a wrong or redress of
grievances. In healthcare, common petition is a claim for damages resulting from medical
malpractice.
,Discuss the therapeutic privilege and compulsory treatment exceptions to be informed
consent process
The therapeutic privilege exception - only applies in narrow circumstances in which a
determination is made that disclosing certain information would be psychologically harmful
to the patient.
A thorough medical assessment of the patient's condition must be completed and
documented.
The compulsory treatment exception - provides that the greater good and health of the
community outweigh the rights of the individual. For example, COVID pandemic is the
institution of mandatory masking requirements without allowing individuals the opportunity
to withhold consent.
Identify some changes in healthcare in recent years that have increased risk for the
healthcare organization (part 1 of 2)
Event: increased regulatory oversight.
impact: CMS, TJC, and state health agencies, which require compliance from healthcare
organizations.
Event: legislative changes including healthcare reform.
Impact: changes to financial reimbursement for services and access to services.
Event: increased emphasis on patient safety
Impact: expectation that orgs take proactive measures to protect patient safety.
, Event: Implementation of EMR.
Impact: risk to continuity of information, cybersecurity, and protection of health information.
Event: changes in workforce.
Impact: shortage, including an aging workforce.
Event: Medicare fraud and abuse.
Impact: increased gov scrutiny to protect Medicare funds.
Event: Workplace Violence.
Impact: increased prevalence of violence against healthcare providers.
Identify some changes in healthcare in recent years that have increased risk for the
healthcare organization (part 2 of 2)
Event: COVID pandemic
Impact: resource shortages, health risks to providers, and financial losses.
Event: tort reform.
Impact: attempting to reduce the number and impact of medical malpractice claims.
Event: access to capital.
Impact: changes in financial stability and viability.
Event: aging patient population and increased prevalence of chronic disease.
Impact: increased use of limited resources.
