Introduction to Healthcare and Public Health in the US: Delivering Healthcare
(Part 2)
Self-assessment key
1. Urgent Care Centers, Mental Health Clinics, and Diagnostic Laboratories are
examples of outpatient facilities.
*a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. Outpatient facilities are not just limited to provider offices and
emergency rooms.
Objective(s): 1, 2
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): a3-4
2. Which of the following statements is true about primary care?
a. Primary care is a strategy for organizing the healthcare system as a whole
b. Primary care needs to be accessible, comprehensive, and coordinated
c. Primary care providers need to provide accountable care
*d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
The Institute of Medicine’s Committee on the Future of Primary care definition: Primary
care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are
accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a
sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and
community.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): a5-7, a9, a10-11
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
1
3. The patient-physician relationship is an essential component to the delivery of
primary care.
*a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. The relationship established between the patient and clinician is a
sustained partnership.
Objective(s): 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): a14-15
4. Which of the following is NOT a primary care medical specialty?
a. General Internal Medicine
b. Pediatrics
*c. Neurology
d. Family Medicine
Answer: c. Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty devoted to diseases of the nervous system and is not a
primary care specialty.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): b4
5. The primary care medical specialty that encompasses patient care that involves “all
ages, both sexes, each organ system and every disease entity” most likely is:
*a. Family Practice
b. General Internal Medicine
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
2
c. Pediatrics
d. Obstetrics and Gynecology
Answer: a. Family Practice
Family practice or family medicine has a broad scope of practice that includes patients
of all ages and diseases. Family medicine has the broadest scope of practice of all
primary care medical specialties.
Objective(s): 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): b5
6. Which of the statements about specialists is FALSE?
a. After completing medical school, specialist physicians train in a specific field (their
specialty).
b. Some specialists undergo additional training (fellowships) after initial training in a
more general field.
c. Physicians may specialize in medical or surgical specialties.
*d. Some physicians are considered specialists without additional training after they
graduate from medical school.
Answer: d. Some physicians are considered specialists without additional training after
they graduate from medical school.
All specialties require additional training after graduation from medical school.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): b9
7. Patients can stay overnight or for a few days after they undergo surgical procedures
in outpatient (ambulatory) surgical center.
a. True
*b. False
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
3
Answer: b. False. Patients typically go home after a brief period of recovery after a
procedure at an outpatient surgical center.
Objective(s): 1, 2
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): b13
8. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a. Physicians are seeing an increasing number of older patients with complex medical
issues.
*b. More physicians are going into careers in primary care now than in the past.
c. Physicians typically have an educational debt when they graduate from medical
school.
d. Specialists are usually better compensated than primary care physicians.
Answer: b. More physicians are going into careers in primary care now than in the past
Unfortunately, there has been a substantial decline in the number of US graduates
entering primary care specialties. US graduates seem to prefer careers in medical
subspecialties
Objective(s): 1
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): b16-17
9. True or false. Retail clinics are typically staffed by physicians.
a. True
*b. False
Answer: b. False. Retail clinics are typically staffed by midlevel providers such as nurse
practitioners.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): c3
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
4
10. Which of the following statements about urgent care centers is FALSE?
a. Urgent care centers usually offer walk-in appointments
b. Urgent care centers typically have laboratory and/or X-ray facilities on-site
c. Some urgent care centers may have more advanced diagnostic equipment
*d. Urgent care centers are intended to treat life-threatening emergencies
Answer: d. Urgent care centers are intended to treat life-threatening emergencies
Urgent care centers typically treat problems that cannot wait, but are not usually
equipped to treat life-threatening emergencies. In the event of a life threatening
emergency, the best place to seek care is an emergency room (always remembering to
call 911 first!)
Objective(s): 1
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): c4-5
11. The age group with the highest annual per capita ED visit rate is:
*a. Infants under 12 months of age
b. Teenagers
c. Adults between the ages of 40 and 60
d. Older adults over the age of 70
Answer: a: Infants under 12 months of age
Objective(s): 1
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): c6
12. Overcrowding in the ER can lead to:
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
5
a. Delays in the treatment of serious medical conditions
b. Increased waiting times
c. Ambulance diversions
*d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Delays in treatment, prolonged waiting times, ambulances that are diverted to lesscrowded hospitals are all consequences of overcrowding in the ER.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): c8
13. Which of the following is NOT a method to reduce inappropriate ER visits?
a. Patient education
b. Establish medical homes
*c. Build more emergency rooms
d. Increase enrollment in safety net programs
Answer: c. Build more emergency rooms
Patient education, implementing the primary care model of the patient centered medical
home, and increasing enrollment in safety net programs may assist in reducing the
number of inappropriate ER visits. There is no evidence that increasing the number of
ERs will solve the problem.
Objective(s): 1
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): c11
14. True or false: Forensic pathology labs are specialized laboratories that resolve
medicolegal issues.
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
6
*a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. Forensic pathology laboratories have a medicolegal role and are often
staffed by specialists in forensic medicine.
Objective(s): 1
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): d6
15. True or false: Occupational therapists help patients recover their speech after a
stroke.
a. True
*b. False
Answer: b. False. Occupational therapists help patients maintain their occupation.
Speech therapists help patients recover from diseases that affect speech.
Objective(s): 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): d13
16. Receptionists, schedulers and greeters in a primary care office are examples of:
*a. Front office staff
b. clinical staff
c. back office staff
Answer: a. Front office staff.
These are members of the patient care team who are highly visible and usually make
contact with the patient at the beginning or at the end of their office visit.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): e4
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
7
17. True or false: The Medical Assistant rooms patients, and obtains their vital statistics
and chief complaint.
*a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True.
Objective(s): 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): e6
18. Which of the following roles are NOT applicable to pharmacists in the outpatient
setting?
a. Pharmacists help patients with questions about medications
b. Pharmacists may help patients manage chronic diseases by adjusting the dose of
their medications (for example the dose of insulin for managing diabetes mellitus)
*c. Pharmacists may diagnose and treat diseases
d. Pharmacists may manage doses of medications such as warfarin according to a predetermined protocol
Answer: c. Pharmacists may diagnose and treat diseases
Only licensed practitioners (such as physicians) can diagnose and treat diseases.
Warfarin is a blood thinner that requires careful monitoring; medication dose is titrated
based on laboratory studies, and pharmacists often manage dosing of drugs such as
warfarin.
Objective(s): 1, 2, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): e9
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
8
19. True or false: Ancillary service providers such as emergency medical technicians
may provide critical care in the field to patients, and are the “first responders” in the
primary care setting.
*a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True. Emergency medical technicians may be the first members of the
healthcare delivery team to evaluate a patient in the field, and may provide life-saving
treatment, or stabilize the patient sufficiently to transport them to an emergency room.
EMTs may also transport patients from outpatient offices or urgent care centers to the
ER.
Objective(s): 1, 3
Lecture(s)/Slide(s): e13
Health IT Workforce Curriculum
Version 3.0/Spring 2012
Introduction to Healthcare and
Public Health in the US
Delivering Healthcare (Part 2)
This material (Comp1_Unit3) was developed by Oregon Health and Science University, funded by the Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC000015.
9