Deck 11: Patient Relations and Education

Question 1

Which of the following statements is correct?

A) The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act was designed to protect patients from unnecessary radiation.
B) The Federal Performance Act of 1974 was designed to protect patients from unnecessary radiation.
C) The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act requires that all x-ray equipment manufactured or sold in the United States meet federal performance standards.
D) There are no federal laws regarding use of dental x-ray equipment.

Answer 1

The Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act was designed to protect patients from unnecessary radiation.

Question 2

Each of the following statements regarding informed consent is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) Speak to the patient in lay terms about the risks and benefits of exposing radiographs.
B) Allow the patient to choose who he/she wants to expose the radiographs.
C) Inform the patient about the risks of radiation exposure.
D) Inform the patient of the purpose of exposing the radiographs.

Answer 2

Allow the patient to choose who he/she wants to expose the radiographs.

Question 3

Dental radiographs must be retained for 7 years after the:

A) date of exposure.
B) patient is deceased.
C) patient ceases to be a patient.
D) completion of treatment.

Answer 3

patient ceases to be a patient.

Question 4

Each of the following statements regarding patients who refuse radiographs is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) The dentist must consider whether care can be provided without the radiographs.
B) A patient who does not want radiographs may sign a document releasing the dentist from liability.
C) Patients may believe radiographs are not necessary or that they will add to treatment costs.
D) Patients may be fearful that dental x-ray exposure will be hazardous to their health.

Question 5

Direct supervision when radiographs are taken means that the dentist:

A) must be present in the office.
B) must be present in an adjacent operatory.
C) need not be present in the office but must be readily available.
D) has authorized the number of films to be taken.

Question 6

Patients may have reasonable access to their radiographs if:

A) changing dentists.
B) having a consult with a specialist.
C) needed for litigation against the dentist.
D) All of the above.

Question 7

Each of the following statements regarding dental radiographic equipment regulations is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) Most states require registration of dental x-ray machines.
B) Inspection of dental x-ray machines is usually conducted every 2-4 years.
C) Fees are usually collected for inspection of x-ray machines.
D) The dentist can perform inspections of dental x-ray machines.

Question 8

Certification and/or licensure to expose dental radiographs:

A) is regulated by individual state laws, which may vary.
B) is not required in all states if one has accredited training.
C) may or may not be regulated by the dentist/employer.
D) is required by law in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Question 9

The federal Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act:

A) mandated safety requirements for collimation and filtration of equipment.
B) provided guidelines and recommended procedures for infection control.
C) provided and updates evidence-based selection criteria guidelines.
D) established standards for state certification/licensure of radiographic personnel.

Question 10

To give informed consent, each of the following must be explained to the patient EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) The purpose of taking radiographs
B) The risks and benefits of taking radiographs
C) The possible risks of refusing radiographs
D) How the radiographs will be taken

Question 11

Which of these statements is FALSE?

A) Direct supervision means the dentist is in the office when radiographs are being exposed.
B) Each state's dental commission controls the scope of practice for dentists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists.
C) State laws governing dental radiographers with on-the-job training vary considerably from state to state.
D) Each state has a mandatory state exam or continuing education requirement for dental radiographers.

Question 12

Policies and procedures used to reduce the chances a patient will file legal action against the oral health care team is known as:

A) code of ethics.
B) risk management.
C) standards protocol.
D) radiation health and safety.

Question 13

Who has a legal right to request copies of a patient's radiographs?

A) Another dentist
B) The patient
C) An insurance company
D) All of the above

Question 14

The statute of limitations for bringing a malpractice suit begins:

A) from the date that treatment was started.
B) from the date that treatment was completed.
C) from the date that the patient discovers an injury.
D) within 5 years from the date that the patient discovered an injury.

Question 15

The legal right of the patient to refuse radiographs is a form of:

A) the statute of limitations.
B) liability.
C) self-determination.
D) disclosure.

Question 16

Legally, radiographs are the property of:

A) the dentist who originally prescribed the radiographs.
B) a new dentist if the patient leaves the original practice.
C) both the original dentist who prescribed the radiographs and a new dentist if the patient leaves the original practice.
D) the patient.

Question 17

Which of these statements regarding risk management is FALSE?

A) Obtain a duplicate copy of a new patient's radiographs if possible.
B) Use the best equipment currently available for exposing radiographs.
C) Take radiographs only if the dentist is present.
D) Establish a written quality assurance system for radiographic equipment.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a goal of the dental radiographer?

A) Keep retake radiographs under three per patient.
B) Perform confidently and with authority.
C) Aim for perfection with each radiograph.
D) Follow strict protocols to protect oneself during exposures.

Question 19

Each of the following statements regarding risk management is correct EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?

A) An attempt should be made to obtain duplicate copies of a new patient's radiographs.
B) The fastest film speed currently available should be used for all radiographs.
C) Unless required by law, personnel monitoring devices should be discouraged.
D) All intraoral radiograph exposures should use an image receptor holding device.

Question 20

Which of these statements is FALSE?

A) Professional rules of conduct are called a "code of ethics."
B) Professional ethics define a standard by which all members of a profession are obligated to conform.
C) The ethics of a profession help guide the behavior of the health care professional.
D) Ethics are laws and regulations pertaining to the behavior of the health care professional.

Question 21

The Consumer-Patient Health and Safety Act provides patients with more control over how their personal health information is used and disclosed.

Question 22

"Liable" means to be legally obligated to make good any loss or damage that may occur.

Question 23

Insurance companies and other third-party payers of treatment require original radiographs for pretreatment authorization purposes.

Question 24

Patients have the right to reasonable access to their radiographs.

Question 25

The process of informing the patient about the risks and benefits of a treatment procedure is called "self-determination."

Question 26

All states have certification requirements for personnel taking dental radiographs.

Question 27

Many states consider a certified dental assistant and a registered dental hygienist competent to place and expose dental radiographs.

Question 28

Original radiographs are the property of the dentist in whose practice they were made.

Question 29

The State Performance Act of 1974 requires all x-ray equipment manufactured or sold in the United States to meet federal performance standards.

Question 30

Radiographers in all states must conform to the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act.

Question 31

The legal right of an individual to make choices concerning health care treatment is called "self-determination."

Question 32

As prudent risk management, radiographs should be retained as part of a client's record for 7 years.

Question 33

There are variations between states in terms of requirements for a dental hygienist or assistant to place and expose radiographs.

Question 34

Dental radiographs must be retained by the dentist for 10 years after the patient leaves the practice.

Question 35

Providing the radiographers with a radiation monitoring device is good risk management.

Question 36

Federal laws regulate the manufacture of dental x-ray machines and state regulations control the use of x-ray equipment.

Question 37

There are national guidelines regarding who can place and expose dental radiographs.

Question 38

Some states require additional credentials beyond passing the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination or Dental Assisting National Board Examination to place and expose dental radiographs.

Question 39

Good patient relations can reduce the risk of possible legal action.

Question 40

In malpractice cases, the dentist may be sued for the actions of the radiographer.

Question 41

Who owns a patient's dental radiographs?

Question 42

Name the action that occurs if diagnosis or treatment is substandard compared to that provided by dentists in a similar locale under similar conditions.

Question 43

Policies and procedures to be followed by the radiographer to reduce the likelihood that a patient will file legal action against the oral health care team are collectively called what?

Question 44

What is the term for the legal right all patients have regarding choices about the health care they will receive?

Question 45

What is the type of consent a patient gives after being told of the nature and purpose of treatment procedures, the benefits, and the risks?

Question 46

What is the term for the period of time during which a patient may bring a malpractice suit against a dental radiographer?

Question 47

When does the statute of limitations begin to run for children?

Question 48

Generally, how frequently must x-ray machines be inspected?

Question 49

Can duplicate radiographs be sent to a specialist consultant or insurance company?

Question 50

What is the discussion with a patient prior to obtaining informed consent to expose dental radiographs called?