Quality Improvement & Audits Flashcards
7 cards from real DHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality Improvement & Audits flashcards as text
In a clinical audit cycle, what is the correct sequence of steps?
Answer: Set standards → Collect data → Compare results → Implement change → Re-audit
The audit cycle follows: set standards, collect data, compare against standards, implement changes, then re-audit to confirm improvement.
Which statistical tool used in quality improvement displays data points over time to distinguish common cause from special cause variation?
Answer: Control chart
Control charts (run charts with control limits) distinguish random common-cause variation from assignable special-cause variation over time.
A DHA facility wants to reduce medication dispensing errors by 50% within 6 months. This goal is best described as:
Answer: A SMART objective
The goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — meeting all SMART criteria.
In the context of DHA accreditation, a 'tracer methodology' during survey means surveyors:
Answer: Follow a patient's care experience across departments to evaluate system performance
Tracer methodology follows individual patients through their care journey to evaluate how systems and processes work together across the organization.
Which quality improvement model uses iterative small tests of change through repeated Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles?
Answer: Model for Improvement (IHI)
The IHI Model for Improvement pairs three fundamental questions with PDSA cycles to test, implement, and spread changes iteratively.
A hospital's cesarean section rate exceeds the DHA benchmark. The FIRST step in a quality improvement response is to:
Answer: Conduct a root cause analysis to identify contributing factors
Root cause analysis must precede any intervention to identify the actual drivers of the problem rather than applying a blanket solution.
In healthcare quality, 'reliability' of a care process means:
Answer: The right care is delivered consistently every time it is needed
Reliability in healthcare means delivering evidence-based care consistently and correctly every time, reducing variation and failure rates.