The rate of health complications of patients on intravenous (IV)

Question

The rate of health complications of patients on intravenous (IV) therapy at a particular hospital was higher than usual. Government inspectors found that the typical IV solutions used in this hospital had somewhat high concentrations of sodium and potassium, which were raising patients' blood pressure and taxing their kidneys. The government inspectors mandated lowering the sodium and potassium in these IV preparations, and threatened with a possible government fine. In compliance, the hospital lowered the sodium and potassium levels in the IV solutions to the correct levels. Nevertheless, patients on IV therapy at that hospital continued to have a high rate of health complications.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why acting on the government inspectors' recommendations failed to achieve its goal?

(A) The change in IV solution procedure meant a number of related legal documents had to be renegotiated and rewritten, at great cost.

(B) When sodium and potassium levels in the blood fall below their baseline level, it can damage cells throughout the body by reverse osmosis.

(C) It is typical for a patient's appetite to increase to healthy levels once they have completed a course of IV therapy.

(D) A high proportion of patients at this hospital are older, and older patients are more vulnerable to infections that can accompany IVs.

(E) Because the findings were published in the news, some patients have chosen to use another hospital in the region.

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soumyadeeptaghosh · Answer

What is the answer to the question?

Whoisdmx15 · Answer

The official answer shall be revealed tomorrow i.e om 22 Jan.

Whoisdmx15 · Answer

(A) The change in IV solution procedure meant a number of related legal documents had to be renegotiated and rewritten, at great cost.  Eliminated  Out of context

(B) When sodium and potassium levels in the blood fall below their baseline level, it can damage cells throughout the body by reverse osmosis.  Eliminated  The hospitals had to lower the K and Na levels to correct levels and not lower than baseline levels.

(C) It is typical for a patient's appetite to increase to healthy levels once they have completed a course of IV therapy.  Eliminated  Out of context

(D) A high proportion of patients at this hospital are older, and older patients are more vulnerable to infections that can accompany IVs.  Suitable  This actually explains the phenomenon, as the high proportion of health problems were on corelated to Na and K levels, but were actually caused by higher proportion of older patients.

(E) Because the findings were published in the news, some patients have chosen to use another hospital in the region.  Eliminated  Does not explain persistent high proportion of health problems.

bhargavhhhhhhhh · Answer

Given:
- High sodium and potassium levels were causing health problems.
- The hospital lowered sodium and potassium levels as per government recommendation.
- The health problems continued despite the change.

Step 1: Look for an answer that explains why the change didn't work.

(A) Legal documents were renegotiated, but this doesn't explain the health issues. 
- Doesn't help explain the failure.

(B) If sodium and potassium are too low, it can damage cells. 
- This explains that lowering sodium and potassium too much can cause more harm, making the problem worse.

(C) Patients' appetite increases after IV therapy. 
- This doesn't explain the ongoing health problems.

(D) Older patients are more vulnerable to infections from IVs. 
- This could explain some health problems, but not because of sodium and potassium levels.

(E) Some patients went to another hospital. 
- This doesn't explain why health problems continued.

Answer: B. Lowering sodium and potassium too much can damage cells.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation

There was a problem with IVs at this hospital. The government thought they isolated the cause—high concentrations of sodium & potassium—and the hospital took care of that. Nevertheless, the overall problem remains. This is a paradox. We need something else that would cause patients as this particular hospital to have a higher than normal rate of health complications from IV therapy.

(D) is the credited answer. If this hospital has more old folks, and old folks are more likely to have health complications from IV therapy, this would completely explain why this particular hospital has higher rates.

(A) is irrelevant: how many legal documents had to be processed in one way or another is not going to have any effect on how many patients have health complications from IV therapy.

(B) is irrelevant. The hospital lowered the sodium and potassium to "correct levels," so concentrations below baseline level are not the issue here.

(C) is irrelevant. This statement concerns folks who have completed their course of IV therapy, whereas this paradox to be resolved concerns folks who get complications during their IV therapy.

(E) is ambiguous. Some patients, hearing this news chose to go elsewhere. What does this imply for the rate of health complications among patients receiving IV therapy? That's unclear. Were the patients who still came to this hospital, on average, in better or worse health than the pool that typically would have come? Were there any commonalities among the health conditions of the folks who chose not to come to this hospital? We don't know. It's possible that, if we had more information, this statement could be relevant, but in the absence of clarification, this doesn't explain anything.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The rate of health complications of patients on intravenous (IV)

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The rate of health complications of patients on intravenous (IV)

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