Board Exam Study Guide Sheet - Patient Care

Question 1

what are the factors of patient care?

Answer 1

• proper care
• information about care and those providing care
• respect for their privacy
• the right to consent to or refuse specific procedures
• access to certain documents
• considerate and respectful care

Question 2

what type of copies are patient’s allowed to request?

Answer 2

• billing records
• medical records
• diagnostic image

Question 3

what does HIPAA stand for?

Answer 3

health insurance portability and accountability act

Question 4

what year was HIPAA enacted?

Answer 4

2003

Question 5

who established HIPAA?

Answer 5

the US department of health and human services (HHS)

Question 6

what is HIPAA?

Answer 6

protects the privacy of patients (financial, medical records)

Question 7

what are the laws in HIPAA?

Answer 7

1. The patient must receive a clear, written explanation of how the health provider may use the disclosed information.
2. The patient will be able to see, and copy records, and request amendments.
3. A history of routine disclosures must be available to the patient.
4. Health care providers must obtain consent before sharing routine information on treatment, payment, and health care operations. Separate authorization is needed for non-routine disclosures and non-health purposes.
5. Patients have the right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of their information.
6. Patients may file complaints with a provider or with the HHS about any violations of these rules.

Question 8

what are some examples of proper usage of HIPAA?

Answer 8

• No schedules or other documents that include patient names may be posted in public areas.
• Only the first names of patients may be used when summoning them from public areas. Avoiding the use of last names is preferred to preserve a degree of anonymity.
• All health record information used for statistical or research purposes must be depersonalized by eliminating any names, numbers, codes, or biometric identifiers associated with a specific person.
• When the release of medical information is authorized, only the specific information designated in the authorization may be included in the release. A copy of the authorization must be kept on file.
• Only specific individuals trained in HIPAA compliance are allowed access to protected health care information.
• All computer files that contain or may contain patient information must be encrypted. Secure access is required for this data.

Question 9

what are factors when signing a consent form?

Answer 9

• Patients must receive a full explanation of the procedure and its risks and benefits and sign the consent form before being sedated or anesthetized.
• A patient must be competent to sign an informed consent.
• Only parents or legal guardians may sign for a minor.
• Only a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent patient.
• Consent forms must be completed before being signed. Patients should never be asked to sign a blank form or a form with blank spaces “to be filled in later.”
• Only the physician named on the consent form may perform the procedure. Consent is not transferable from one physician to another, not even to an associate.
• Any condition stated on the form must be met. For example, if the form states that a family member will be present during the procedure, the consent is not valid if the family member is not there.
• Informed consent can be revoked by the patient at any time after signing. This is an invocation of the patient’s right to refuse examination.

Question 10

can a patient refuse a treatment or procedure at any time?

Answer 10

yes

Question 11

what must be done when the patient wants to stop the treatment?

Answer 11

stop immediately