Deck 19: Quality Improvement in Radiation Oncology

Question 1

Which of the following regulatory agencies is dedicated to improving the quality of care in health care settings and also requires radiation oncology departments to have its own dedicated QI plan?

A) ANSI
B) TJC
C) NCQA
D) NRC

Answer 1

B
TJC has mandated that each radiation oncology department have a dedicated QI plan.

Question 2

Which organization guides specific radiation oncology staff in the development of a quality assurance (QA)program as it relates to treatment planning and delivery?

A) ACR
B) NRC
C) AAPM
D) ASRT

Answer 2

C
AAPM,which is the professional organization for medical physicists,has been a forerunner in the development of minimum standards to guide medical physicists in the development of a QA program as it relates to treatment planning and delivery.AAPM task group reports outline comprehensive QA programs.

Question 3

Among continuous improvement methods,the system of Six Sigma is one that focuses on improving processes by:

A) emphasizing quality control procedures that are routinely performed,documented,and evaluated
B) emphasizing speed and efficiency
C) the elimination of defects in the process through precision and accuracy
D) continuous statistical assessment of date being collected

Answer 3

C
Six Sigma is a process improvement method.It was originally formulated by Bill Smith of the Motorola Corporation in 1986.It also incorporates some of the martial arts terminology to define key roles of leadership; for example black belts are project leaders

Question 4

TJC's indicator measurement system (IM system)focuses primarily on:

A) acute inpatient care
B) quality indicators
C) electronic data
D) peer review

Question 5

What term is defined as "planned or systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given requirements for quality"?

A) quality audit
B) quality assurance
C) quality control
D) quality indicator

Question 6

A QI plan has a(n)_____________ that verifies that all aspects of the radiation oncology process meet national,state,institutional,and/or departmental quality standards and an mechanism to institute change if necessary:

A) audit mechanism
B) oversight committee
C) action plan
D) support staff

Question 7

The ASRT have developed practice standards for radiation therapists.They are divided into what three sections?

A) cognitive,affective,and psychomotor standards
B) clinical,quality,and professional performance standards
C) education,professional self-assessment,and ethical behavior standards
D) patient care,treatment delivery,and TQM standards

Question 8

Appropriate use of CQI assists the health care organization in responding to all of the following except:

A) increased competition
B) escalating costs
C) quality concerns
D) development of individual performance

Question 9

This federal agency has as its scope of responsibility the regulation of nuclear reactors; medical,academic,and industrial uses of nuclear materials; and the transport,storage,and disposal of nuclear materials and waste.

A) NRC
B) EPA
C) DOT
D) FDA

Question 10

Peer review plays a part in several QA programs in radiation oncology.Select the programs listed below that incorporate peer review as part of QA.

A) weekly chart review
B) weekly film review
C) current patient case review
D) new patient planning conference
E) all of the above

Question 11

In the mid-1980s,OSHA mandated a policy on:

A) biohazard disposal procedures
B) preventing injuries
C) mold room procedures
D) bloodborne pathogens

Question 12

TJC QA focuses on performance measurement,which is based on the comparison of processes with:

A) outcomes to quality indicators
B) peer review to data
C) aspects of care to survey results
D) care environment to outcomes

Question 13

Components of a quality improvement (QI)plan in radiation oncology incorporate evaluation,assessment,identification,data collection,and annual review of items ultimately affecting patient care.The key player in the QI plan is the:

A) QI officer
B) QI committee
C) medical director
D) radiation oncology team