RST Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to AASM technical specifications, what is the maximum acceptable electrode impedance for EEG electrodes during polysomnography?
- 2 kΩ
- 5 kΩ (Correct answer)
- 10 kΩ
- 20 kΩ
Correct answer: 5 kΩ
AASM standards require EEG electrode impedance to be below 5 kΩ to ensure adequate signal quality and minimize artifact.
Question 2: Which organization is the primary accrediting body for sleep disorders centers in the United States?
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) (Correct answer)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- College of American Pathologists (CAP)
Correct answer: American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
The AASM is the primary accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and laboratories in the United States, setting clinical and technical standards.
Question 3: How often should polysomnography equipment undergo formal biomedical calibration according to standard quality assurance protocols?
- Daily before each study
- Weekly
- Monthly
- At least annually (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At least annually
Polysomnography equipment should undergo formal biomedical calibration at least annually to verify accuracy and ensure regulatory compliance.
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct approach for disinfecting reusable surface electrodes between patients?
- Wipe with a dry cloth only
- Soak in isopropyl alcohol for 30 seconds regardless of manufacturer guidance
- Clean and disinfect per manufacturer instructions and facility infection control policy (Correct answer)
- Autoclave all reusable electrodes before each use
Correct answer: Clean and disinfect per manufacturer instructions and facility infection control policy
Reusable electrodes must be cleaned and disinfected per manufacturer instructions and facility infection control policies to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 5: Under HIPAA, what is the minimum federal requirement for retaining protected health information documentation?
- 2 years from date of service
- 5 years from date of service
- 6 years from date of creation or last effective date (Correct answer)
- 10 years from date of creation
Correct answer: 6 years from date of creation or last effective date
HIPAA requires covered entities to retain documentation for 6 years from creation or last effective date, though state laws may mandate longer retention.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of performing a biocalibration at the beginning of a polysomnographic study?
- To verify patient identity before recording
- To confirm equipment function and establish baseline physiological signals with patient cooperation (Correct answer)
- To calibrate the room's ambient light and temperature sensors
- To assess the patient's subjective sleep quality before lights-out
Correct answer: To confirm equipment function and establish baseline physiological signals with patient cooperation
Biocalibration verifies that all equipment channels are functioning and establishes baseline physiological signals through patient-performed maneuvers before the study begins.
Question 7: When a technologist discovers an unreliable SpO2 signal during a study, what is the appropriate quality assurance response?
- Continue the study without intervention and note the issue only in the final report
- Troubleshoot and correct the signal, documenting all actions taken in the study record (Correct answer)
- Immediately terminate and reschedule the study
- Ignore the issue if all other channels are recording properly
Correct answer: Troubleshoot and correct the signal, documenting all actions taken in the study record
Troubleshooting to restore signal quality is the priority, and all corrective actions must be documented to maintain data integrity and meet quality standards.
RST Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance 1
According to AASM technical specifications, what is the maximum acceptable electrode impedance for EEG electrodes during polysomnography?