NPTE-PT Safety and Professional Responsibilities 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PT is asked by their employer to see more patients per hour than is safely manageable. What is the most appropriate response?
- Comply with the employer's request to maintain employment
- Reduce treatment time per patient to meet the quota
- Raise the concern formally with the supervisor, citing patient safety standards (Correct answer)
- Quietly document the situation without addressing it with management
Correct answer: Raise the concern formally with the supervisor, citing patient safety standards
PTs have an ethical obligation to advocate for patient safety and must formally address staffing concerns that compromise care quality.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the PT's responsibility when delegating care to a PTA?
- The PTA assumes full responsibility once the task is delegated
- The PT retains supervisory responsibility and accountability for the delegated care (Correct answer)
- The PT is responsible only for the initial evaluation and plan of care
- Responsibility is shared equally between the PT and PTA
Correct answer: The PT retains supervisory responsibility and accountability for the delegated care
The PT retains professional and legal responsibility for the overall care, even when tasks are delegated to a PTA.
Question 3: A patient reports that a different PT touched them inappropriately during a previous session. What is the correct action?
- Advise the patient to file a personal complaint and take no further action
- Document the report and follow facility and mandatory reporting protocols (Correct answer)
- Confront the accused PT directly before reporting
- Dismiss the complaint because it did not occur during your care
Correct answer: Document the report and follow facility and mandatory reporting protocols
Reports of inappropriate conduct must be documented and reported per facility protocol and applicable laws, protecting patient safety.
Question 4: A PT is treating a patient who has a latex allergy listed in their chart. Which action is most appropriate before beginning treatment?
- Use latex gloves since the allergy is mild
- Confirm all equipment and supplies are latex-free before starting treatment (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient if they feel comfortable with latex products today
- Proceed with treatment since latex gloves are not always used in PT
Correct answer: Confirm all equipment and supplies are latex-free before starting treatment
A documented latex allergy requires removing all latex-containing items from the treatment environment to prevent a potentially life-threatening reaction.
Question 5: What does the principle of 'beneficence' require of a PT in clinical practice?
- Avoiding harm to the patient above all other considerations
- Acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their well-being (Correct answer)
- Respecting the patient's right to make independent decisions
- Treating all patients equally regardless of their condition
Correct answer: Acting in the patient's best interest and promoting their well-being
Beneficence requires actively promoting the patient's well-being and acting in their best interest.
Question 6: A PT discovers that a patient has been double-billed for services. What is the most appropriate action?
- Ignore it since billing is handled by a separate department
- Document the finding and report it to the appropriate billing or compliance department (Correct answer)
- Inform the patient and allow them to resolve the billing dispute
- Correct the bill personally without notifying anyone
Correct answer: Document the finding and report it to the appropriate billing or compliance department
PTs have a professional responsibility to report billing errors or fraud to the appropriate compliance department.
Question 7: When is it appropriate for a PT to terminate a therapeutic relationship with a patient?
- When the patient questions the PT's treatment choices
- When the patient has achieved goals, plateaued, or when continuing care is no longer in their best interest (Correct answer)
- When the patient files an insurance claim that is denied
- When the patient is non-compliant for a single session
Correct answer: When the patient has achieved goals, plateaued, or when continuing care is no longer in their best interest
Termination is appropriate when goals are met, progress has plateaued, or continuing care would not benefit the patient.
NPTE-PT Safety and Professional Responsibilities 4
A PT is asked by their employer to see more patients per hour than is safely manageable.
What is the most appropriate response?