Medical Emergencies Management and Risk Management: Medical Error Prevention

~ Exam ~

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This test has 24 questions.

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1. The most frequent medical emergency in the dental office is:
  a. myocardial infarction

  b. syncope

  c. respiratory arrest

  d. allergic reactions

2. In an emergency, the best place to check the pulse is the:

  a. carotid artery
  b. brachial artery

  c. radial artery
  d. femoral
3. The best position in which to place a syncopal patient is:

  a. seated with the patient’s head between their legs

  b. supine with the legs elevated

  c. on their side

  d. in a seated postition
4. Which best illustrates the “normal” vitals for an adult?

  a. Pulse 108, BP 160/90, respirations 22, temperature 101°F

  b. Pulse 50, BP 88/40, respirations 28, temperature 98.6°F

  c. Pulse 80, BP 118/70, respirations 16, temperature 98.6°F

  d. Pulse 98, BP 208/110, respirations 18, temperature 97.2°F

5. Most emergencies occur:
  a. in the reception room

  b. after the treatment is completed
  c. while under nitrous oxide sedation
  d. during or immediately following local anesthesia administration

6. A conscious patient is unable to breathe or talk. When you ask if they are choking, they nod their head. You should administer:
  a. oxygen
  b. four back blows
  c. fifteen chest compressions
  d. abdominal thrusts
7. Immediately upon recognizing cardiac arrest in the office you should:

  a. call 911
  b. ventilate with a bag-valve-mask

  c. begin chest compressions

  d. administer oxygen
8. While administering lidocaine anesthesia to a 21-year-old male, he becomes pale, pushes the dentist’s hand away and passes out. You suspect:
  a. lidocaine toxicity
  b. allergic reaction
  c. epinephrine reaction
  d. syncope
9. A severe allergic reaction involving several body systems is called:
  a. convulsions
  b. syncope
  c. anaphylaxis
  d. angina pectoris
10. An older patient becomes restless during treatment. He seems unable to move one arm and his speech is slurred. He may be having:
  a. cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemia attack

  b. acute myocardial infarction
  c. angina pectoris
  d. angina pectoris
11. Anxiety hyperventilation is best treated using:
  a. a paper bag
  b. high flow oxygen
  c. coaching techniques to slow breathing
  d. anti-anxiety agents
12. The medication most often used to relieve anginal pain is:

  a. nitroglycerin
  b. Dilantin®
  c. epinephrine

  d. insulin

13. Nitroglycerin is administered:

  a. intrvenously
  b. intrvenously
  c. sublingually
  d. by inhalation
14. A heart rate greater than 100 is called:

  a. tachycardia
  b. arrythmia
  c. hypertension
  d. bradycardia
15. A patient health history should be taken:
  a. at the patient’s first visit and an update at each visit

  b. in ink at the end of each treatment

  c. in ink at the end of each treatment

  d. at the patient’s first visit and again if the patient mentions a medical problem

16. Medical errors always result in patient injury or death.
  a. true
  b. false
17. The key to reducing medical errors is to focus on improving the systems of delivering care and not to blame individuals.
  a. True
  b. False
18. Research clearly shows that the majority of medical errors cannot be prevented.
  a. True
  b. False
19. Near-misses are occurrences that could have resulted in an adverse event but the event was averted and the patient was not harmed.
  a. true
  b. false
20. Root-cause analysis is the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim.
  a. True
  b. False
21. When an error occurs it is important to disclose the error because:
  a. It may leave you vulnerable to a lawsuit.
  b. In some states it is mandatory.
  c. You may be obligated to report the incident to the authorities.
  d. All of the above
22. When documenting the error, it is important to:
  a. Document every single detail.
  b. Only document what you want the authorities to know.
  c. Be accurate and factual.
  d. Never document an error.
23. When analyzing an error, the most important finding relates to:
  a. What the root cause is so the process can be improved
  b. Who did something wrong
  c. Who needs to be disciplined
  d. Why someone didn’t do their job
24. Factors influencing an error might include:
  a. Training and Education
  b. Task Factors
  c. Equipment Problems
  d. All of the above
25. As you seek to improve patient safety in your practice, remember that:
  a. Change takes more time than you will ever have available.
  b. It’s important to develop a culture of safety throughout your practice.
  c. Safety matters more to the referring offices than it will to your office.
  d. It might be too expensive to promote safety