American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

What are conditions identified by CMS that are not present on admission and could be reasonably prevented called?

1. Conditions of Participation

2. Present on admission

3. Hospital-acquired conditions

4. Hospital-acquired infection

The correct answer is: Hospital-acquired conditions

The term "hospital-acquired conditions" refers to specific conditions that patients acquire during their stay in a hospital, which were not present upon admission. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified these conditions as being reasonably preventable through the implementation of evidence-based guidelines and best practices in healthcare settings. By focusing on preventing these conditions, CMS aims to enhance patient care and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs associated with complications that arise during hospitalization. Understanding this concept is vital in the context of healthcare management and quality assurance. It highlights the importance of hospitals actively working to minimize the risk of complications that can arise during a patient's treatment, ultimately improving overall patient outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Other options such as conditions of participation pertain to regulatory requirements for healthcare providers to receive Medicare and Medicaid funding, and present on admission designates conditions that were noted at the time of admission, which are different from what is being asked in the question. Hospital-acquired infections are a subset of hospital-acquired conditions but do not encompass the broader categorization, making "hospital-acquired conditions" the most appropriate choice.