Patient Safety & Quality Improvement USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 52-year-old surgeon consistently performs procedures without preoperative surgical site marking, despite two informal conversations about the practice gap. The hospital's surgical site infection rate has increased to 3.2% (previously 1.8%). Chart review reveals no documentation of timeout procedures in 8 of 12 recent cases. The surgeon denies substance use and shows no signs of cognitive impairment. Which of the following represents the most appropriate next step to address this patient safety concern?
Answer choices
- AFile a complaint directly with the state medical board
- BReport the behavior to the department chair or patient safety officerCorrect answer
- CRefuse to participate in any future procedures with this surgeon
- DDocument the observations but take no further action
- EContinue informal reminders and hope the behavior changes
- FArrange for immediate neuropsychological testing to rule out underlying cognitive decline
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