COT Patient Care and Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before performing any ophthalmic test, the technician should FIRST:
- Dim the room lights
- Verify patient identity and review the chief complaint (Correct answer)
- Instill dilating drops
- Check the instrument calibration
Correct answer: Verify patient identity and review the chief complaint
Confirming patient identity and understanding the chief complaint ensures testing is appropriate and prevents errors.
Question 2: When documenting a patient's visual acuity as 20/40, what does this mean?
- The patient sees at 20 feet what a normal eye sees at 40 feet (Correct answer)
- The patient sees at 40 feet what a normal eye sees at 20 feet
- The patient has 40% vision in one eye
- The patient requires a +2.00 correction
Correct answer: The patient sees at 20 feet what a normal eye sees at 40 feet
Snellen notation means the patient must be 20 feet away to see what a person with normal vision sees at 40 feet.
Question 3: Which communication technique is most appropriate when explaining a new diagnosis to an anxious patient?
- Use complex medical terminology to appear authoritative
- Speak quickly to reduce their anxiety sooner
- Use plain language, maintain eye contact, and allow questions (Correct answer)
- Avoid the topic to prevent further distress
Correct answer: Use plain language, maintain eye contact, and allow questions
Plain language, eye contact, and open dialogue promote patient understanding and build trust in anxious patients.
Question 4: HIPAA regulations require that patient health information be shared with:
- Any staff member in the practice
- Only those with a clinical need to know (Correct answer)
- Family members who ask
- Insurance companies without authorization
Correct answer: Only those with a clinical need to know
HIPAA's minimum necessary standard limits PHI sharing to staff with a legitimate clinical or operational need.
Question 5: What is the correct technique for documenting a medication allergy in a patient record?
- Write it only on the pharmacy form
- Record it verbally to the physician only
- Document allergy, reaction type, and severity prominently in the chart (Correct answer)
- Note it only if the allergy is life-threatening
Correct answer: Document allergy, reaction type, and severity prominently in the chart
All allergies should be documented with the specific reaction and severity to prevent accidental exposure during treatment.
Question 6: When assisting a patient with low vision in an unfamiliar clinic environment, you should:
- Hold their arm and guide them without asking
- Offer a sighted guide technique and let the patient take your arm (Correct answer)
- Walk quickly ahead and instruct them to follow your voice
- Have them wait alone while you fetch a wheelchair
Correct answer: Offer a sighted guide technique and let the patient take your arm
The sighted guide technique involves the patient grasping the guide's arm just above the elbow, giving them control and safety.
COT Patient Care and Communication 1
Before performing any ophthalmic test, the technician should FIRST: