NAHQ CPHQ Practice Exam

Which of the following patient safety goals is applicable to everyone in a healthcare facility?

1. hand hygiene

2. hand-off communication

3. medication safety

4. prevention of falls

The correct answer is: hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is a patient safety goal that is applicable to everyone in a healthcare facility because it is a fundamental practice that helps prevent the spread of infections. Every healthcare worker, regardless of their role, should practice good hand hygiene to protect patients, themselves, and their colleagues from acquiring or transmitting infections. Proper hand hygiene involves washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before and after patient contact, after touching surfaces or objects in the patient’s environment, and before handling medications or performing any invasive procedures. This universal practice is essential in maintaining a safe healthcare environment. While the other options, such as hand-off communication, medication safety, and prevention of falls, are also important patient safety goals in healthcare settings, they may not apply to everyone in the facility to the same extent as hand hygiene. Hand-off communication is typically relevant to healthcare providers directly involved in patient care transitions, medication safety primarily concerns healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, administering, or dispensing medications, and fall prevention often involves specific units or teams dedicated to managing and preventing patient falls.