W/L Ch 19 Quality Improvement Quiz

Question 1

Components of a quality improvement (QI) plan in radiation oncology incorporate evaluation, assessment, identification, data collection, and annual review of items ultimately affecting patient care. Which of the following is the key player in the QI plan?

a. QI officer
b. QI committee
c. Medical director
d. Radiation oncology team

Answer 1

d. Radiation oncology team

Question 2

Which of the following regulatory agencies is dedicated to improving the quality of care in health care settings and also requires every radiation oncology department to have its own dedicated QI plan?

a. ANSI
b. TJC
c. NCQA
d. NRC

Answer 2

b. TJC

The Joint Commission has mandated that each radiation oncology department have a dedicated QI plan.

Question 3

Which organization guides specific radiation oncology staff in the development of a quality assurance (QA) program as it relates to treatment planning and delivery?

a. ACR
b. NRC
c. AAPM
d. ASRT

Answer 3

c. AAPM

American Association of Physicists in Medicine

Question 4

Peer review plays a part in several QA programs in radiation oncology. Select the program(s) listed here that incorporate peer review as part of QA.

a. Weekly chart review
b. Weekly film review
c. Current patient case review
d. New patient planning conference
e. All of the above

Answer 4

e. All of the above

Question 5

This federal agency has as its scope of responsibility the regulation of nuclear reactors; medical, academic, and industrial uses of nuclear materials; and the transport, storage, and disposal of nuclear materials and waste.

a. NRC
b. EPA
c. DOT
d. FDA

Answer 5

a. NRC

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Question 6

What term is defined as “planned or systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given requirements for quality”?

a. Quality audit
b. QA
c. Quality control
d. Quality indicator

Answer 6

b. QA

Question 7

A QI plan has a(n) _____________ that verifies that all aspects of the radiation oncology process meet national, state, institutional, or departmental quality standards and have a mechanism to institute change if necessary.

a. audit mechanism
b. oversight committee
c. action plan
d. support staff

Answer 7

a. audit mechanism

Question 8

In general, the major components of a QI plan include which of the following?

a. Evaluation of patterns
b. Assessment of individual clinical events
c. Action to be taken to resolve problems
d. Weekly meeting of QI committee
e. a, b, and d
f. a, b, and c

Answer 8

f. a, b, and c

Question 9

Among continuous improvement methods, the system of Six Sigma focuses on improving processes by _______________________________.

a. emphasizing quality control procedures that are routinely performed, documented, and evaluated
b. emphasizing speed and efficiency
c. eliminating defects in the process through precision and accuracy
d. continuous statistical assessment of data being collected

Answer 9

c. eliminating defects in the process through precision and accuracy

Question 10

TJC quality assurance focuses on performance measurement, which is based on the comparison of processes with which of the following?

a. Outcomes to quality indicators
b. Peer review to data
c. Aspects of care to survey results
d. Care environment to outcomes

Answer 10

a. Outcomes to quality indicators

Question 11

In the mid-1980s, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated a policy on __________________.

a. biohazard disposal procedures
b. preventing injuries
c. mold room procedures
d. blood-borne pathogens

Answer 11

d. blood-borne pathogens

Question 12

The ASRT have developed practice standards for radiation therapists. They are divided into what three sections?

a. Cognitive, affective, and psychomotor standards
b. Clinical, quality, and professional performance standards
c. Education, professional self-assessment, and ethical behavior standards
d. Patient care, treatment delivery, and Total Quality Management (TQM) standards

Answer 12

b. Clinical, quality, and professional performance standards

Question 13

TJC’s indicator measurement system (IM system) focuses primarily on which of the following?

a. Acute inpatient care
b. Quality indicators
c. Electronic data
d. Peer review

Answer 13

a. Acute inpatient care

Question 14

Dr. D. F. Deming’s 14 principles of management emphasize which of the following?

a. Employee participation in a “customer-responsive” environment
b. Short-term goals and strong management
c. Individual performance, rather than teamwork
d. Setting of thresholds
e. Both a and b
f. Both c and d

Answer 14

a. Employee participation in a “customer-responsive” environment

Question 15

Appropriate use of CQI assists the health care organization in responding to all except which of the following?

a. Increased competition
b. Escalating costs
c. Quality concerns
d. Development of individual performance

Answer 15

d. Development of individual performance

CQI focuses on and promotes teamwork rather than individual performance.

Question 16

The recommended frequency for checking the audio-visual system in the treatment room is _______________.

a. daily
b. weekly
c. monthly
d. yearly

Answer 16

a. daily

Question 17

The output constancy of all electron energies on the linear accelerator are recommended to be checked ________________.

a. daily
b. twice weekly
c. once weekly
d. once Monthly

Answer 17

b. twice weekly

Output constancy for all electron energies need not be checked daily if not in use, but all electron energies are to be checked at least twice weekly.

Question 18

The tolerance for light/radiation field coincidence on the linear accelerator is _____ mm.

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Answer 18

b. 2

Question 19

X-ray output was calibrated during commissioning as 1.0 cGy/MU. During monthly quality assurance checks, the output is calibrated as 1.3 cGy/MU. This monthly output measurement is _____________________.

a. outside of tolerance limits but no action is required
b. within tolerance limits and no action is required
c. outside of tolerance limits and action is required
d. not required until the annual quality assurance routine

Answer 19

c. outside of tolerance limits and action is required

Question 20

A daily quality assurance check for the computed tomography (CT) simulator is to check the CT number accuracy for which of the following?

a. Lead
b. Water
c. Air
d. Bone

Answer 20

b. Water