Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

What technique is most effective for identifying problems in a system before they occur?

1. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)

2. Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)

3. Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC)

4. Root cause analysis (RCA)

The correct answer is: Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)

The technique of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is particularly effective for identifying potential problems in a system before they occur because it involves a proactive approach to risk assessment. FMEA allows teams to systematically examine a process or system to identify where failures might occur and analyze the potential effects of those failures. During the FMEA process, each potential failure mode is evaluated in terms of its likelihood of occurrence, the severity of its consequences, and the ability to detect the failure before it impacts the system. This structured methodology not only facilitates the identification of risks but also encourages prioritization based on the significance of the identified issues, enabling organizations to implement corrective measures effectively before actual failures take place. In contrast, the other techniques listed, while valuable in their own right, tend to be more reactive in nature or suited for different phases of quality improvement. For instance, the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle focuses on testing changes in real-time to improve a process, and while it can identify problems, it typically does so after they have been implemented. Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) is a data-driven improvement cycle that is part of Six Sigma, designed to improve processes that are already in