Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

Which type of drill tests the response to a simulated emergency in a healthcare setting?

1. Full emergency drill

2. Functional drill

3. Tabletop drill

4. Walk through drill

The correct answer is: Full emergency drill

A full emergency drill is designed to test the response to a simulated emergency in a healthcare setting by involving staff members in a realistic scenario. This type of drill typically includes the activation of alarms, communication with emergency responders, and the actual movement of patients, all while functioning under pressure to simulate real-life conditions. The emphasis on full immersion in the emergency situation helps healthcare providers evaluate their readiness to respond, identify potential gaps in emergency protocols, and practice coordinated response efforts across various departments. This level of training allows for a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of emergency plans and the skills of the personnel involved. Other types of drills, like functional drills, typically focus on a specific task or operation within the emergency plan rather than a full-scale response. Tabletop drills are more of a discussion-based exercise where participants review and discuss the response to a simulated emergency scenario without any physical movement or real-time actions. Walkthrough drills often involve going through procedures step by step without the urgency or stress of a real emergency, leading to a less comprehensive evaluation of readiness compared to full drills. Therefore, a full emergency drill stands out for its ability to simulate a complete emergency response realistically.