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Root cause analysis — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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ModerateEthics, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Systems-Based PracticeRoot cause analysisUSMLE Step 3

A hospitalized patient receives a medication despite a documented allergy after the allergy field fails to transfer from the emergency department record to the inpatient record. The patient has anaphylaxis but survives. The hospital wants to prevent recurrence. Which of the following is the most appropriate quality improvement measure?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Perform a root cause analysis focused on system failures

Serious preventable adverse events warrant root cause analysis to identify latent system failures and corrective actions.

Reference: AHRQ Patient Safety Network: Root Cause Analysis