Which of the following best describes the concept of value-based healthcare?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Value-based healthcare focuses on improving clinical outcomes while controlling costs. It emphasizes quality over quantity, aiming to provide efficient and effective care that enhances patient health outcomes while managing expenses. Choices A and B are incorrect because value-based healthcare is not about focusing on the volume of services provided or maximizing hospital revenue. Choice D, emphasizing patient satisfaction, is also not the primary focus of value-based healthcare, which prioritizes clinical outcomes and cost control.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The main goal of discharge planning is to prevent hospital readmissions by ensuring patients have a clear and effective plan for post-discharge care. This includes coordinating follow-up appointments, medication management, and providing necessary support services to promote a successful transition from the hospital to home or another care setting. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because discharge planning is not primarily about speedy discharge, medication education, or transitioning between care levels; its main focus is on preventing readmissions through comprehensive post-discharge care.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. A sentinel event in healthcare is an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness. These events are serious occurrences that warrant immediate investigation and response to prevent their recurrence and ensure patient safety. Choices A, B, and D do not fit the definition of a sentinel event. A patient falling without injury, a near-miss medication error, and a patient developing an infection, while concerning, do not meet the criteria of an unexpected patient death unrelated to the natural course of illness.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Instinct. Instinct theory suggests that behaviors are influenced by inherited or innate tendencies, guiding individuals to act in specific ways without conscious reasoning. In the context of staff behavior, instinct can play a significant role in shaping their actions and responses. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Appreciation, control, and esteem are factors that may influence staff behavior, but in this context, the question specifically asks for a characteristic that influences staff to act in a certain way, which aligns more closely with instinctive tendencies rather than external factors like appreciation, control, or esteem.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Functional. In functional structures, employees are grouped in departments based on specialty, allowing individuals with similar skills and tasks to work together efficiently. In this scenario, organizing the hospital into departments such as nursing, dietary, and pharmacy based on their specialties exemplifies a functional organizational structure. Choice A, Parallel structure, involves independent units working on similar tasks. Choice C, Service-integrated structure, emphasizes cross-functional teamwork across various departments. Choice D, Matrix structure, involves employees reporting to multiple managers for different projects or tasks, which is not described in the scenario.