CPC Patient Navigation and Advocacy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A community paramedic visits a patient who refuses to take prescribed medications due to cost. What is the most appropriate first action?
- Document refusal and move on
- Assess the patient's insurance coverage and explore assistance programs (Correct answer)
- Contact the physician to discontinue the medication
- Advise the patient to purchase generic alternatives on their own
Correct answer: Assess the patient's insurance coverage and explore assistance programs
Exploring insurance coverage and pharmaceutical assistance programs directly addresses the barrier of medication affordability.
Question 2: Which community resource is MOST appropriate to connect a food-insecure patient with in the United States?
- Medicaid waiver program
- Area Agency on Aging
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) (Correct answer)
- Community Mental Health Center
Correct answer: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
SNAP is the primary federal nutrition assistance program for food-insecure individuals and families.
Question 3: A patient with limited English proficiency needs health education. What is the best practice for a community paramedic?
- Use a family member as an interpreter
- Speak slowly and hope the patient understands
- Use a trained medical interpreter or translation service (Correct answer)
- Provide written materials in English only
Correct answer: Use a trained medical interpreter or translation service
Trained medical interpreters ensure accurate communication without the confidentiality and accuracy risks of using family members.
Question 4: When advocating for a patient within the healthcare system, which approach BEST defines the community paramedic's role?
- Making medical decisions on the patient's behalf
- Acting as a liaison between the patient and their care team to ensure needs are addressed (Correct answer)
- Replacing the primary care physician as the main point of contact
- Limiting advocacy to emergency situations only
Correct answer: Acting as a liaison between the patient and their care team to ensure needs are addressed
The community paramedic serves as a liaison, amplifying the patient's voice without overstepping into medical decision-making.
Question 5: A homebound elderly patient has untreated hypertension but has not seen a doctor in two years. After stabilizing the patient, what is the community paramedic's priority navigation step?
- Transport to the emergency department immediately
- Arrange follow-up with a primary care provider and address transportation barriers (Correct answer)
- Prescribe antihypertensives directly
- Notify adult protective services without the patient's consent
Correct answer: Arrange follow-up with a primary care provider and address transportation barriers
Connecting the patient to a primary care provider and resolving transportation barriers addresses the root cause of non-engagement with care.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes a social determinant of health relevant to patient navigation?
- Serum cholesterol level
- Housing stability (Correct answer)
- Pulse oximetry reading
- Echocardiogram result
Correct answer: Housing stability
Housing stability is a social determinant of health that directly influences a patient's ability to manage chronic conditions.
Question 7: A patient discloses during a home visit that they are experiencing domestic violence. What is the community paramedic's first obligation?
- Confront the suspected abuser immediately
- Ensure the patient's immediate safety and provide information on local resources (Correct answer)
- File a police report without the patient's knowledge
- Document the visit as routine and take no further action
Correct answer: Ensure the patient's immediate safety and provide information on local resources
Ensuring immediate safety and providing resource information respects patient autonomy while fulfilling the duty to protect.
CPC Patient Navigation and Advocacy 2
A community paramedic visits a patient who refuses to take prescribed medications due to cost.
What is the most appropriate first action?