Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Advanced Officer Certification Practice Exam

A "Professional Patient" is seeking which of the following?

1. Attention

2. Controlled substances

3. Housing

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

A "Professional Patient" typically refers to an individual who frequently utilizes healthcare services, often with the intent to gain certain benefits or attention from the system. This type of patient may seek various outcomes that can include attention from medical staff, which often results from their complex and possibly manipulative interactions within the healthcare environment. Additionally, they might be in pursuit of controlled substances, as they may exploit their access to healthcare to request medications that they feel could benefit them, whether for legitimate pain management or for misuse purposes. It’s also possible they seek housing or social support services, especially if they are experiencing difficulties in those areas. Therefore, the correct response encompasses the understanding that a "Professional Patient" may be motivated by multiple needs, hence seeking all of the options provided: attention from healthcare workers, potential access to controlled substances, and possibly assistance with housing. This multifaceted approach is critical as it highlights the complexity of dealing with such patients within the healthcare system, necessitating a thoughtful and strategic response from security and healthcare professionals.