Patient Safety & Quality Improvement USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 28-year-old medical student observes an attending physician enter a patient's room without performing hand hygiene before examining a hospitalized 62-year-old male with pneumonia (temperature 38.2°C, HR 102 bpm, RR 22/min, SpO2 89% on 2L O2). The patient's recent blood cultures grew gram-negative rods. The student notes the attending has not mentioned infection control protocols during rounds. According to safety culture principles, which approach best supports addressing this lapse?
Answer choices
- AA culture of individual excellence that prioritizes personal performance
- BA just culture that encourages reporting of safety concerns without fear of retributionCorrect answer
- CA blame culture that holds individuals accountable for every error
- DA culture of silence that protects team cohesion
- EA hierarchical culture that respects seniority in clinical decisions
- FPunitive culture discouraging reporting through fear of blame
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