Communication Info Mgmt Flashcards
One of the first things necessary to attempt strategic planning is based on the
best information available. This is accomplished by baseline assessments of:
a. Trends and staffing levels
b. Trends, current capacity, staffing levels, and perception of facility
c. Patient volumes, staffing levels, and reimbursement levels
d. All of the above
b. Trends, current capacity, staffing levels, and perception of facility
Radiology administrators can build a future view of their organization by
closely examining historical and public information.
a. True
b. False
a. true
No analysis of trends is complete without an examination of the future of
imaging technology. With digital formats come an ever increasing number of
images and data to manage. By managing connectivity of the following
system(s) this can be done.
a. RIS
b. HIS, RIS
c. EMR, HIS
d. RIS, HIS, EMR
d. RIS, HIS, EMR
A facility’s capacity depends on:
a. Staffing and financial resources
b. Staffing, financial resources, and workflow
c. Staffing, workflow, available technology, financial resources,
organizational structure
d. Staffing, workflow, available technology, and financial resources
b. Staffing, financial resources, and workflow
Key elements of technology assessments start with existing resources and their
capabilities. This is can be done through:
a. Personal observation and research
b. Personal observation, industry standards, documentation, research, and
comments of users
c. Personal observation, industry standards, and documentation
d. None of the above
b. Personal observation, industry standards, documentation, research, and
comments of users
Budgets that regularly fail to cover technology expenditures will hinder
capacity growth.
a. True
b. False
a. True
A staffing assessment should include the following reviews:
a. Staffing levels, staffing resources, staffing capabilities, and current
employee survey
b. Staffing levels, staffing resources, and staffing capabilities
c. Staffing levels, staffing capabilities, and current employee survey
d. Staffing resources, staffing capabilities, and current employee survey
b. Staffing levels, staffing resources, and staffing capabilities
A public perception survey is an effective method for assessing how the facility
is perceived within its market. It can reveal:
a. That staff is caring
b. That staff is compassionate
c. What was going on
d. All the above
d. All the above
In a SWOT analysis, SWOT stands for:
a. See, Work, Outside, Technical
b. See, Work, Outlier, Technical
c. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
d. None of the above
c. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
A SWOT analysis is used to analyze an organization and its business
opportunities, and the analysis is by no means all inclusive.
a. True
b. False
a. True
To effectively measure productivity, it must be quantitative, show performance
measures, and be simplistic in nature.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The expected outcome(s) of goals are to:
a. Provide set of expectations
b. Provide direction
c. Give members sense of order
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Strategic planning involves:
a. A unified vision
b. Efforts of a few select personnel
c. Identification of a facility’s goals
d. Both B & C
c. Identification of a facility’s goals
If you want to alter an established productivity standard, what data should you
gather?
a. New services to be added or deleted that will affect staff
b. How it will affect the budget financially
c. Current staffing levels in relation to peak volumes
d. None of the above
a. New services to be added or deleted that will affect staff
b. How it will affect the budget financially
c. Current staffing levels in relation to peak volumes
Methods of internal analysis consist of:
a. Personal self assessment
b. Focus groups
c. Indirect communication
d. Both B & C
d. Both B & C
Questions to answer when doing an internal analysis are:
a. Do processes need revision?
b. Are current processes an advantage or hindrance?
c. Are the facility’s strategic initiatives being furthered?
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Which of the following are vastly important when conducting a workflow
analysis?
a. Keeping its results broad
b. Performing an internal analysis of processes
c. Keeping its results complex
d. Both A & B
d. Both A & B
To ensure the success of proposed workflow changes, what is important to all
individuals involved?
a. Visual display of new processes to help employees adopt change
b. Less tracking of unachieved results
c. Ongoing communication of how processes that have changed have
affected outcomes
d. Both A & B
a. Visual display of new processes to help employees adopt change
Healthcare as an industry devotes approximately what percentage of its cost to labor? a. 50% b. 60% c. 35% d. 70%
b. 60%
Which of the following is not an example of a strategic goal?
a. Increase market share.
b. Increase customer satisfaction percentages.
c. Increase volume over previous year(s).
d. Decrease personal tardiness by being on time to work.
d. Decrease personal tardiness by being on time to work.
To successfully increase the Labor Management Statistic (LMS) standard, it
must be shown how this change will fortify the strategic plan and improve the
organization’s goals/areas in need of improvement.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The nation’s leading organization of radiology professionals is the:
a. ARRT
b. ARDMS
c. ACR
d. ASRT
c. ACR
The number one reason a facility should seek ACR accreditation is:
a. Benefits
b. Marketability of services
c. Quality
d. Recognition
c. Quality
Focus groups include the following :
a. Focused discussions
b. People
c. Useful collected data
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
External customers include:
a. The community at large
b. Employees
c. Vendors
d. All of the above
a. The community at large
One of the disadvantages of a focus group is that the time line from initial set
up to final information gathering is relatively short.
a. True
b. False
b. False
Strategic initiatives must bring about change that benefits:
a. The department only
b. Ancillary areas that work directly with the department
c. The whole facility
d. The customers only
c. The whole facility
A valuable resource to identify issues involving quality assurance are:
a. Radiologists
b. Co-workers
c. Consumers
d. Accreditation standards
a. Radiologists
An alternative physician peer review program must include the following:
a. Exams and procedures unrepresentative of each physician’s specialty
b. Single reading assessment
c. Random selection of studies
d. Both A & C
c. Random selection of studies
The advantage of one on one interviews with employees is:
a. Offer insight not discovered in a focus group.
b. They probably already exist as an organization process.
c. Offer the benefit of nonverbal communication.
d. All of the above.
d. All of the above.
The success of a strategic plan depends on:
a. Gathering one source of information and working on this solely
b. Probing discussion
c. Using small focus groups only
d. A handful of people only
b. Probing discussion
Once a strategic plan is formulated, it is important to:
a. Never change it.
b. Only empower certain individuals to make sure it endures.
c. Adjust each facet to ensure solid implementation of the worked tasks.
d. Note that if it is a sound practice, it will not need to be refined.
c. Adjust each facet to ensure solid implementation of the worked tasks.
The greatest strategic plans involve:
a. The ideas of only a select number of chosen individuals
b. The desires of the developers
c. Independence from the organization’s mission and purpose
d. Both B & C
b. The desires of the developers
To increase the effectiveness of employee surveys:
a. Analyze the data only after being gathered
b. Make it part of the planning cycle
c. Use a single type of survey for effectiveness
d. Both B & C
b. Make it part of the planning cycle
Some tools to utilize to formulate a strong strategic plan are:
a. Review of productivity stats
b. Focus groups
c. Workflow analysis
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Deming’s 14 points of radiology include which of the following?
a. Cease dependence on mass inspection
b. Take action to accomplish the transformation
c. Institute leadership
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
In the plan phase of the cycle, the identified problem is:
a. Analyzed
b. Implemented
c. Assessed
d. Measured
a. Analyzed
A chart that prioritizes factors and puts them in graphic form quickly and simply is: a. Fishbone chart b. Control chart c. Pareto chart d. Flow chart
c. Pareto chart
Six sigma refers to the statistical likelihood that there will be only 3.4 failures or
defects in a million opportunities.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The chart that uses a cause and effect method whereby the step-by-step
process is followed from beginning to end in order to look at each stage of
production is:
a. Pareto chart
b. Histogram
c. Control chart
d. Fishbone chart
d. Fishbone chart
A favorable outcome indicates that the technologists are performing within the
national standards and patients are not being exposed to unnecessary
radiation because of:
a. Missed diagnosis
b. Repeated exams
c. QI measures
d. Safety
b. Repeated exams
Quality improvement began in manufacturing in the early:
a. 1920s
b. 1950s
c. 1940s
d. 1970s
b. 1950s
“Knowledge begins with data and ends with other data” is a quote by which quality expert? a. Walter Shewhart b. W. Edwards Deming c. Joseph Juran d. Philip Crosby
a. Walter Shewhart
The evaluation of root causes involves a rigorous, thoughtful team approach to
glow diagramming and construction of cause-and-effect diagrams after
consideration of:
a. Failures in human factors of communication, training, fatigue, or
scheduling
b. Barriers
c. Environmental or equipment failures
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
The five essential steps in Lean methodology include all except:
a. Make the activities flow
b. Perfect the process
c. Exploit the constraint
d. Identify the value steam
c. Exploit the constraint
The degree to which the care and services provided and relevant to an
individual’s clinical needs is a definition of which of the Nine Dimensions of
Performance?
a. Efficiency
b. Continuity
c. Availability
d. Appropriateness
d. Appropriateness
The Plan Do Check Act method of performance measurement is a tool that
focuses on _______ problem(s) and then tests the solution(s).
a. Two
b. One
c. All
d. Simultaneous
b. One
“Monitor and collect data” and “compare new data against old data for
improvements in the process” are which step of the PDCA method?
a. Plan
b. Do
c. Check
d. Act
c. Check
The chart that helps a radiology manager understand the stream of processes is a: a. Control chart b. Run charts c. Flow chart d. Pareto chart
c. Flow chart
Theory of Constraints (TOC) contains 5 steps. Which of the following is/are considered a step in the process? a. Elevate the constraint b. Identify the constraint c. Exploit the constraint d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Managed care emerged as a means to help control:
a. Patient utilization
b. Cost
c. Monitoring processes
d. Diseases
b. Cost
Data sources are categorized into what 3 types?
a. Healthcare provider, consumer, and management of the provider
b. Human resources, consumer, and patient
c. Healthcare provider, consumer, and administration
d. None of the above
a. Healthcare provider, consumer, and management of the provider
Data collection must be linked to an outcome, and a process should be
improved or declared satisfactory if the data collection process is to be efficient
and useful.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Information received from patient surveys and feedback from suggestion
boxes, such as perceived satisfaction or feelings, is a definition of which type of
data?
a. Objective data
b. Collected data
c. Subjective data
d. Knowledge data
c. Subjective data
Data collection should:
a. Reveal opportunities
b. Indentify trends
c. Predict future performance
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
The sample size for data collection on a sentinel event should be:
a. 20%
b. 100%
c. 50%
d. 33%
b. 100%
Regulations and quality standards are provided for mammography by the:
a. Mammography Quality Standards Act
b. American College of Radiology
c. The Joint Commission
d. American Hospital Association
a. Mammography Quality Standards Act
The reason for a QI plan is to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ processes and to reduce the inevitable \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ error. a. Identify, equipment b. Monitor, fatal c. Flow chart, human d. Monitor, human
d. Monitor, human
The PROCESS model has how many phases?
a. 6
b. 8
c. 9
d. 7
d. 7
The PROCESS Model
1. Specify the plan requirements and objectives. Identify who, what, when, and how.
2. Analyze current processes. Identify the needs of the customers. Collect historical information.
3. Perform a root cause analysis. Display data is related graph form.
4. Identify improvement processes.
Identify steps in the improved procedure. Develop a policy for the new process. Implement the new process.
5. Analyze the process. Collect data on implemented processes. Measure data using QI tools (graphs and charts).
6. Assess the process against proven standards. Document the process. Educate and reeducate as needed.
7. Begin the process again. Continually measure and identify areas for improvement.
What is a resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines?
a. National Guidelines Clearinghouse
b. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
c. American Medical Guidelines Association
d. American Medical Association
a. National Guidelines Clearinghouse
Which factor(s) determine credit worthiness?
a. Capital, collateral, creativity
b. Character, capacity, capital
c. Capacity, collateral, commitment
d. None of the above
b. Character, capacity, capital
Character—the borrower’s reputation and honesty.
Capacity—the borrower’s business experience and know-how.
Capital—the borrower’s ability to meet loan payments.
Collateral—assets that can be liquidated in the event of default.
An advantage of leasing includes:
a. Leaves credit untouched
b. Equipment is not a facility asset
c. No finance charges
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Key elements of a pro forma document include:
a. Projected balance sheet
b. Income projections
c. Break-even point
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
SBA stands for:
a. Society for the Benefit of America
b. Small Business Alliance
c. Small Business Administration
d. Securities, Benefits, Assets
c. Small Business Administration
Ways to identify financial resources include all of the following except:
a. Investor assessment
b. Forecasting revenue
c. Forecasting profits
d. Financial/historical analysis
b. Forecasting revenue
Business ratios include:
a. Profit margin
b. Days in accounts receivable
c. Current ratio
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
To develop a seasonality index, use all of the following steps except:
a. Calculate volume data by month for past 3 years
b. Calculate the average volume for each week over the 3 year period
c. Add the average volumes together and divide by 12 for average monthly
volume
d. Divide each month’s average volume by the average monthly volume to
get each month’s seasonal index
b. Calculate the average volume for each week over the 3 year period
Resources include all of the following except:
a. Human
b. Marketing
c. Technical
d. Financial
b. Marketing
The two most common sources of equity capital are angel investors and
venture capital firms.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Equity Capital—Equity capital is funds given to a business in exchange for a share
of the ownership. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who invest in businesses of high growth potential with the expectation of high returns on the investment
Any project should offer the following return on investment percentage:
a. 10% to 20%
b. 25% to 35%
c. 35% to 45%
d. 45% to 55%
b. 25% to 35%
The human resources of a facility are the most important factor in the success
of a strategic plan.
a. True
b. False
b. False
The technological resources of a facility are an important factor
Alternative technology resources include:
a. Forecasting
b. Purchasing
c. Sharing
d. Both B & C
b. Purchasing
Some advantages in hiring temporary workers include all of the following
except:
a. A cost effective option
b. Provides opportunity for employee evaluation prior to long term
commitment
c. Helps in meeting short term demands
d. Gives skilled workers flexibility
c. Helps in meeting short term demands
Question(s) to ask key staffing agencies include:
a. What is the agency’s pricing strategy?
b. What is the typical age range of personnel?
c. What benefits does the agency provide to its workers?
d. None of the above
d. None of the above
The request for qualifications (RFQ) process includes:
a. Using word of mouth for solicitation purposes
b. Selecting the candidates
c. Ranking the candidates
d. Both B & C
d. Both B & C
The “work-in-progress “staff members are the most abundant category in the
workplace for analyzing internal human resources.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Selecting an outsourcing vendor involves several phases, including:
a. Negotiating with the chosen vendor
b. Narrowing the selection based on the proposals
c. Defining needs and expectations
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Rising stars are:
a. Individuals who climbed the corporate ladder quickly
b. Individuals who are successful at what they do because they are highly
motivated
c. Individuals who tolerate their jobs
d. Individuals chosen to educate others because of their superior intellects
b. Individuals who are successful at what they do because they are highly
motivated
To identify an employee who would be a great match to the needs of a project, use: a. Performance review process b. Personnel records c. Both A & B d. None of the above
c. Both A & B
The most common motivator(s) for rising stars are:
a. Challenges
b. Less responsibilities
c. Acknowledgement/prestige
d. Both A & B
a. Challenges
CPT stands for:
a. Current procedural trends
b. Current productivity trends
c. Current process terminology
d. Current procedural terminology
d. Current procedural terminology
Identifying financial and technological resources is extremely important in a
strategic plan, but incorporation of the _______ factor is also crucial.
a. Economic
b. Labor
c. Human
d. Marketing
c. Human
What can reignite the fire in some employees and help with recruitment and retention? a. Financial gains b. New responsibilities c. Instant recognition d. Career advancement
b. New responsibilities
The disadvantages of leasing include all of the following except:
a. No tax breaks
b. Lack of ownership
c. Need to make lease payments even if equipment is not in use
d. Substantial costs in finance charges
a. No tax breaks
The estimate of total startup capital provided by angel investors in the US is:
a. 55%
b. 60%
c. 75%
d. 80%
d. 80%
Why is it important to gain a clearer perspective about your customers before
entering into the strategic planning process?
a. The consumer provides direction for the planning process
b. The consumer’s perspective provides the attitudes, behaviors, wants,
and specific needs of the market
c. The perspective is one element of understanding the market
d. All of the above
x
b. The consumer’s perspective provides the attitudes, behaviors, wants,
and specific needs of the market
When conducting any market research, it is important to focus on the following key elements: a. Project issues b. Project objectives c. Customers d. Competitors
c. Customers
When conducting any market research, it is important to focus on the following key elements: a. Project issues b. Project objectives c. Customers d. Competitors
c. Customers
Market research can be gleaned using two principal methods:
a. Primary and secondary research
b. Qualitative research and surveys
c. Demographics and attitudinal research
d. Competitive overview and informatics
a. Primary and secondary research
Primary research
involves collecting data about the customer by way of surveys, personal interviews,
observation, and focus groups.
Secondary research is conducted using studies
that have already been performed and published, such as governmental studies,
technologic publications, political issues, legislation, business reports, and trade
publications.
Secondary market research provides information regarding:
a. Review any existing data, studies, plans, or research
b. Political, economic, sociocultural, and technological factors
c. Demographics, payer type, national utilization, and referral base for
general oncology
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Evaluating an internal environment consists of conducting a preliminary SWOT
analysis. Where in the organization does this begin?
a. Operational staff
b. Managerial staff
c. Top leadership/owners
d. Staff radiologists
c. Top leadership/owners
When evaluating the patient “customer” segment, understanding their values
and religion is not an integral part of the evaluation process.
a. True
b. False
b. False
The following specific information is needed to proceed with the planning of a new facility, except:
a. Market research (including general demographics, growth trends, and physician population)
b. Perspective on the market’s key referral drivers and service demands
c. Internal assessment to determine operational efficiency
d. An understanding of the referral sources’ relationships with current service providers
c. Internal assessment to determine operational efficiency
Competitors’ news stories and press releases are critical elements of the strategic
planning process.
a. True
b. False
a. True
The following components are elements of the preparation phase, except for:
a. Determining sample plan and size
b. Preparing survey candidates
c. Determining research design
d. Designing data collection forms/questionnaires
b. Preparing survey candidates
Primary research techniques include the following except for:
a. Direct observation
b. Focus groups
c. Demographics segmented by age, gender, and health status
d. Mail, telephone, and email surveys
c. Demographics segmented by age, gender, and health status
During the primary research phase, ask the referring physician for all of the following information except:
a. Are there financial barriers to entry?
b. What are the current referral loyalties?
c. Who are the physician champions in the market?
d. Is there perceived need for a new imaging facility?
a. Are there financial barriers to entry?
Designing an effective survey tool may take the resources of an outside agency.
a. True
b. False
a. True
All of the following are examples of maintaining good data collection procedures, except for:
a. Perform data verification
b. Develop a method for coding the responses
c. Document all comments
d. Develop a method for developing data into useful information
d. Develop a method for developing data into useful information
Data collected should:
a. Define size of the facility
b. Identify strategic strengths and possible exam fees
c. Identify growth opportunities and referrer’s needs and demands
d. All of the above
c. Identify growth opportunities and referrer’s needs and demands
An outside research firm may best provide:
a. Objectivity in interpreting data
b. Efficient research processes
c. Formalized reporting representing data collection methods
d. SWOT analysis
a. Objectivity in interpreting data
Because the data are qualitative, the team uses a survey design
that includes some open-ended questions. The tool offers yes/no questions and
involves a rating system to evaluate customer satisfaction. It allows for a quick,
succinct survey that easily correlates with the objectives. These questions will
make coding responses and interpretation easier.
page 101
The workflow assessment requires all of the following, except:
a. Evaluating current processes
b. Tracking call queuing
c. Performance goals
d. Patient satisfaction level
b. Tracking call queuing
The internal work process should be specifically designed to:
a. Meet the needs of the staff radiologist
b. Meet the needs of each customer segment
c. Work to address busy patient processing issues
d. None of the above
b. Meet the needs of each customer segment
The preliminary SWOT analysis should:
a. Be expanded as data is acquired to develop it further
b. Continue to include key stakeholders and staff
c. Be revisited on an annual basis
d. All of the above
x
b. Continue to include key stakeholders and staff
page 92
Key objectives described through the typical research process include the following:
a. Define the problem, process, design, and development
b. Research process and function, preparation, and report
c. Define the problem, research design and preparation, functions/process, and report
d. Problem definition, external and internal analysis, research function, and report
c. Define the problem, research design and preparation, functions/process, and report
Success is defined as:
a. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted
b. Achieving results higher than those of competitors
c. Creating changes within an organization
d. The creation of alternative methods or processes
a. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted