Introduction to Health and Human Services (D390)

Correct Answer:

A. Cost-effective, high-quality care

Explanation:

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is designed to improve health outcomes by coordinating care across providers, focusing on prevention, and actively involving patients in decision-making. Its intended outcome is to provide comprehensive, accessible, and patient-centered care that is both high quality and cost-effective. The model reduces unnecessary hospitalizations and improves long-term health outcomes.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Convenient and fast care

While PCMH strives for accessibility, the goal is not speed or convenience alone but long-term quality and value of care.

C. Health professional dictated care

PCMH emphasizes shared decision-making and collaboration, not provider-dominated care.

D. Care that serves all

Equity is a value in health care, but PCMH specifically emphasizes coordinated, cost-effective, high-quality care rather than simply care for all.

Correct Answer:

C. Acute care

Explanation:

Acute care is short-term, immediate, and intensive treatment for severe or life-threatening conditions that come on suddenly. A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a medical emergency requiring urgent intervention, such as oxygen therapy, medications, or surgery, to restore blood flow and prevent death. Because the patient’s chest pain and diagnosis require rapid treatment in a hospital setting, this is an example of acute care.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Infectious care

Infectious care focuses on illnesses caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. A heart attack is not an infectious condition, so this type of care is not relevant in this scenario.

B. Chronic care

Chronic care is long-term management for conditions like diabetes, asthma, or hypertension. While heart disease can require chronic care, the immediate heart attack episode is acute, not chronic, and requires urgent intervention.

D. Contagious care

Contagious care refers to preventing the spread of diseases from person to person, such as influenza or COVID-19. A heart attack is not contagious, so this type of care does not apply.

Correct Answer:

A. Develop a question

Explanation:

The first step in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process is to clearly define the clinical problem by formulating a focused, answerable question. This often uses the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). In this case, the healthcare team must first ask a structured question such as, “What strategies improve follow-up appointment attendance among clients?” Only after defining the question can they move to searching for evidence, appraising research, and applying findings.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Find information about the question

Searching for information comes after the problem has been clearly defined and formulated into a researchable question. Without a well-developed question, the search may be unfocused or irrelevant.

C. Collect research

Collecting and reviewing research is also a later step in the EBP process. Before gathering evidence, the team must first determine what specific issue they are addressing through a researchable question.

D. Apply the research to the client situation

Applying research findings is one of the final steps in EBP, after the question is developed, evidence is gathered, and findings are critically appraised. It cannot occur without first defining the problem and systematically reviewing the evidence.

Correct Answer:

A. To provide services that prevent sickness and care for people in medical need

Explanation:

The fundamental purpose of any healthcare system is to protect and improve health by preventing illness and treating individuals who are sick or injured. This involves both preventive care, such as vaccinations and screenings, and curative care, such as surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation. The focus is on maintaining health, managing disease, and supporting recovery so that individuals can live healthier, longer, and more productive lives.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. To provide services that bring all health services together for single-source delivery

While integration of services can improve efficiency, it is not the basic universal purpose of healthcare systems. It is more of an organizational approach rather than the core mission.

C. To provide services that prolong life beyond its natural end

Healthcare aims to preserve and improve quality of life, not unnaturally extend it beyond what is possible or ethical. This description does not reflect the true purpose of healthcare.

D. To provide services that support an effective workforce for the country

A healthier workforce is a benefit of good healthcare, but this is not the basic purpose of healthcare systems. The main purpose is to care for people’s health, not just to serve economic productivity.

Correct Answer:

A. Healthcare administrators help develop and implement policies and procedures and provide overall management in many areas of a healthcare organization.

Explanation:

Healthcare administrators oversee the non-clinical operations of healthcare organizations. Their responsibilities include managing budgets, staffing, compliance with regulations, and the development of policies and procedures that ensure effective and safe delivery of care. They play a leadership role by coordinating departments, improving efficiency, and supporting quality outcomes. Their purpose is to provide overall management that allows clinical professionals to focus on direct patient care.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Healthcare administrators help provide social services to individuals in the community.

This describes the role of social workers or social and human service assistants, not healthcare administrators.

C. Healthcare administrators schedule appointments and file and organize materials.

This reflects the role of medical administrative assistants or clerical staff, not higher-level healthcare administrators.

D. Healthcare administrators assist doctors, nurses, and medical personnel with specific medical procedures.

This is the role of clinical staff such as nurses and technicians. Administrators are not directly involved in providing medical procedures.

Correct Answer:

A. An individual who helps arrange access, facilitates communication, and provides clear information to individuals about their healthcare

Explanation:

A care coordinator’s role is to act as a bridge between patients, families, and healthcare providers. They ensure that patients can access needed services, help them understand treatment plans, and coordinate communication across different parts of the healthcare system. By arranging access and providing clear information, care coordinators improve patient outcomes, reduce confusion, and promote continuity of care.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. An individual who defines which doctors and medical personnel patients can access

This reflects the role of insurers or managed care organizations, not care coordinators. Coordinators guide access but do not restrict provider choice.

C. An individual whose primary role is to provide direct medical services within a healthcare system

Care coordinators do not deliver direct medical services; they support and coordinate care delivery provided by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

D. An individual who defines the type of healthcare data and technology used for a particular patient or system

This aligns more with health information technology specialists, not care coordinators. Coordinators use systems but do not define or control them.

Correct Answer:

C. HHS divides its responsibilities among 11 divisions and many smaller agencies to appropriately address different health needs.

Explanation:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees healthcare through its structure of 11 divisions, including major agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These divisions specialize in different aspects of health such as public health, biomedical research, and healthcare financing. This division of responsibility allows HHS to manage the broad and complex needs of the U.S. healthcare system efficiently.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. HHS reports directly to Congress to ensure responsiveness to citizens.

Although HHS works under federal oversight and reports to Congress, this is not the main mechanism that allows it to manage its wide responsibilities.

B. HHS takes direction from the World Health Organization to ensure that U.S. citizens receive appropriate healthcare.

The WHO provides global guidance but does not direct U.S. healthcare policy. HHS operates under U.S. federal law, not WHO authority.

D. HHS employs thousands of people, who—although they may not be well trained individually—collectively possess wide healthcare knowledge.

This is inaccurate. HHS employs highly trained professionals across various specialties, but its effectiveness lies in its structured divisions and agencies, not in collective general knowledge.

Correct Answer:

A. Doctors, social workers, and neighborhood health workers

Explanation:

A multidisciplinary team is made up of professionals from different disciplines who collaborate to address the multiple needs of patients or clients. Doctors contribute medical expertise, social workers address psychosocial issues, and neighborhood health workers provide community-based support and outreach. This combination of varied professional perspectives exemplifies a true multidisciplinary team.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Doctors and nurses

While both are essential, doctors and nurses represent primarily medical care. This is an interdisciplinary relationship within healthcare but not a broad multidisciplinary team involving varied professions.

C. Social workers and clients

This is a professional–client relationship, not a team of multiple disciplines. A multidisciplinary team requires collaboration between professionals from different fields.

D. Doctors, nurses, and clients

Clients are recipients of care, not professionals. While patient involvement is critical in patient-centered care, this grouping does not represent a multidisciplinary professional team.

Correct Answer:

D. Assisted living facility

Explanation:

Assisted living facilities are designed for older adults who cannot live safely on their own but do not require the intensive medical services of a hospital or nursing home. In this case, the client has frequent falls, no family support, difficulty driving, and problems managing medications, all of which indicate the need for assistance with daily living. Assisted living provides support with medication management, meals, transportation, and safety while promoting independence.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Hospice care facility

Hospice care is appropriate for clients with terminal illnesses who are nearing the end of life and need comfort-focused care. The client’s condition is not terminal; she needs ongoing assistance, not end-of-life care.

B. Memory care facility

Memory care facilities specialize in patients with advanced cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The scenario does not indicate memory loss or confusion as the primary issue, so this is not the best fit.

C. Long-term care facility

Long-term care facilities, also known as nursing homes, provide extensive medical and personal care for clients with serious, ongoing health issues requiring skilled nursing. This client does not demonstrate a need for full nursing care, making assisted living more appropriate.