Certified Professional in
Healthcare Quality
CPHQ: The Mark of Distinction in
Healthcare Quality
2nd International Conference of the Asia Pacific Society for
Healthcare Quality 2008
18 January 2008
Singapore
David Loose, RN, MSN, CPHQ, CNAA
Chair, Healthcare Quality Certification Board 2008
National Association for
Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)
Founded 1976
Leading organization for healthcare quality
professionals in the USA
Over 5,000 individual members and
100 institutional members
MISSION:
NAHQ empowers healthcare quality professionals from
every specialty by providing vital research, education,
networking, certification and professional practice
resources, and a strong voice for healthcare quality.
Healthcare Quality Certification Board
(HQCB)
Formed in 1976 as the “Quality Assurance Certification Board”
A separate Board from NAHQ
The certifying arm of NAHQ
MISSION:
The Healthcare Quality Certification Board, by providing the
only accredited international healthcare quality certification,
improves the quality of healthcare
by advancing the theory, practice and development of diverse
quality professionals.
Establishes policies, procedures, and standards for certification and recertification
in the field of healthcare quality management.
Grants Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) status, recognizing
professional and academic achievement through the individual’s participation in
this international voluntary certification program
HQCB Vision
The HQCB is a globally
recognized leader
dedicated to improving
the quality of healthcare
by providing a valid
process for assessing the
competency of
professionals in
healthcare quality.
A Certified Professional in Healthcare
Quality (CPHQ) is…
An individual who has passed the HQCB’s accredited,
international examination demonstrating:
Competent knowledge in quality principles
Skill & understanding of program development and
management
Coordination of survey processes
Communication and education techniques
Departmental management
History of the CPHQ Exam
1976 - Exam Committee formation
1984 - The first exam administered
2000 - International expansion
2002 - Computer-based testing
2005 - Web-based international testing
Approved by National Organization for
Competency Assurance (NOCA)
NOCA promotes excellence in competency assurance for practitioners
in all occupations and professions by approving their certification
processes.
Assures the public and employers of the quality, validity, and legal
defensibility of the CPHQ credential and attests to the professional
commitment of those who achieve this recognition.
HQCB completed it’s initial Survey in 1988. Has successfully recertified
every 5 years since.
CPHQ is the only fully-accredited credential in the field of international
quality management
Total CPHQ Candidates Tested
18,000
Cumulative # of Candidates Tested
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
HQCB Candidate Distribution
USA International
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
Number of International Candidates
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
CPHQ Licensure or Registration
RN 71%
LVN 1%
RHIA 4%
RHIT 3%
MD/DO 1%
Other 8%
None 12%
Demographic Data of International CPHQ’s
Demographic Variable International Respondents
Organization type 51% hospital-based
Unit within hospital 63% QM
Organization size 48% with 1000+ employees
Years of experience Median = 13 years
Time in HC quality 73% spend 100% of time
Type of position 70% supervisory or higher
Highest degree 40% Masters Degree
% with degree 82% B.A./B.S. or higher
Credential 66% CPHQ
License 64% RN; 6% MD; 6% allied health;
6% other; 18% none
Countries Represented 54
Content Validity of Exam Based on
International Practice Analysis
Completed December 2006
Defined the tasks of the international
Quality Management professional in:
Hospitals
Clinics
Home Care
Behavioral / Mental Health
Other settings Quality Professionals Practice.
International Exam Content Outline :
Effective 10/1/2007
¾ Management and Leadership 22%
¾ Information Management 24%
¾ Performance Measurement
¾ and Improvement 38%
¾ Patient Safety 16%
Specific Tasks Within Content Areas
Leadership
Strategic & Operational
Information Management
Design & Data Collection
Measurement
Analysis
Communication
Performance Measurement & Improvement
Planning
Implementation
Education & Training
Evaluation & Integration
Patient Safety
Strategic & Operational
Getting Started
Eligibility for CPHQ Exam
• 1 January 2004: Eliminated minimum education and
experience criteria.
• Must assess own readiness to take the exam.
Recommend candidates have at least two years
experience in managing and/or conducting activities
in healthcare quality. NOT appropriate for entry level
candidates.
• For ALL professionals who aspire to excel and
demonstrate their competency in healthcare quality.
Testing Centers
www.goAMP.com
Some of the Testing Locations on this website:
Hong Kong (Institute of International Education, 156 Des Voeux Road Central, General
Commercial Building, Room 601-2, Hong Kong)
Singapore (United States Educational Information Center
12 Prince Edward Road, #01-03 Podium A, Bestway Building, Singapore)
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Guam, Philippines
Australia
UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
Computer-based Testing
Each exam includes 15 new questions for “pre-testing” that
are not included in final scoring
All questions included in final scores have been pre-tested
for quality and accuracy
3 hours to complete exam
Allows instant pass / fail score reports
Test Taking Tips
Prepare: Suggested resources in Handbook
NEW: CPHQ Self-Assessment Examination
65-question online exam developed to be parallel in
content and difficulty to the actual examination.
Questions are presented in the same computer format
as the certification examination.
Can be used to assess whether or not you are
prepared for the examination.
More Test Taking Tips
Review International Terminology Crosswalk
(Translation available from English to Arabic, Spanish, Chinese
on website)
Case mix = patient groupings
CEO = Chief Executive Officer
Unit = Unit / ward / floor
Buddy Up to Study and Take Test
Review Content Outline Carefully
Read Each Question Carefully: Not designed to trick you
Cognitive Levels for Exam
Questions
(140 Total, 15 pre-test)
Recall - 32% of exam (40)
Test of specific facts & concepts
Application - 53% of exam (63)
Requires candidate to interpret or to apply
information to a situation
Analysis - 15% of exam (22)
Tests the ability to evaluate, problem solve or
integrate information and / or judgment into a
meaningful whole.
©HQCB
Recall
Which of the following types of budgets itemizes the
major equipment to be purchased in the next year?
A. capital
B. variable
C. operating
D. zero-based
Recall
Which of the following types of budgets itemizes the major
equipment to be purchased in the next year?
9 A. CAPITAL
B. variable
C. operating
D. zero-based
Key: A
Task on Content Outline: Management and Leadership –
Participate in preparing and managing operating budgets.
Application
The separate services of Pharmacy and Nursing are having difficulty
developing an action plan for medication errors. Pharmacy Services
states that Nursing Services causes the majority of the problems
related to errors, while Nursing Services states the opposite. The
quality professional’s role in resolving this problem is to:
A. provide them with directives on how to solve the problem.
B. facilitate discussion between the groups to enable them to
assume ownership of their portions of the problem.
C. assign the task to an uninvolved manager.
D. refer the problem to the facility-wide quality council.
Application
The separate services of Pharmacy and Nursing are having difficulty
developing an action plan for medication errors. Pharmacy Services states
that Nursing Services causes the majority of the problems related to errors,
while Nursing Services states the opposite. The quality professional’s role in
resolving this problem is to:
A. provide them with directives on how to solve the problem.
9 B. FACILITATE DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE GROUPS TO
ENABLE THEM TO ASSUME OWNERSHIP OF THEIR
PORTIONS OF THE PROBLEM.
C. assign the task to an uninvolved manager.
D. refer the problem to the facility-wide quality council.
Key: B
Task on Content Outline: Performance Measurement & Improvement–
Facilitate change within the organization.
Analysis
The following represents two samples of five hospitals’ hysterectomy rates per
1,000 women aged 40-60 years of age:
Rates Mean Standard Deviation
Sample A 3, 5, 7, 8, 5 5.6 1.8
Sample B 4, 5, 6, 7, 5 5.4 1.1
In analyzing this information, it can be concluded that:
A. Sample A has more variability than Sample B.
B. Sample A’s performance is superior to
Sample B’s.
C. there are more cases in Sample B.
D. there is a data collection error in Sample B.
Analysis
The following represents two samples of five hospitals’ hysterectomy rates per 1,000
women aged 40-60 years of age:
Rates Mean Standard Deviation
Sample A 3, 5, 7, 8, 5 5.6 1.8
Sample B 4, 5, 6, 7, 5 5.4 1.1
In analyzing this information, it can be concluded that:
9 A. Sample A has more variability than Sample B.
B. Sample A’s performance is superior to
Sample B’s.
C. there are more cases in Sample B.
D. there is a data collection error in Sample B.
Key: A
Task on Content Outline: Information Management; Use basic statistical techniques
to describe data.
After You Pass the Examination
Can use the designation of CPHQ after your name.
Recertification required every 2 years
30 hours of continuing education required
The continuing education must cover the topics on the exam outline
Various Ways of Obtaining Continuing Education
Seminar/Conference Attendance
Webinar/Audio Conferences
College Courses
Self Study
Professional Benefits of CPHQ
Promotes:
Excellence in the profession
Quality Management as a distinct
discipline in Healthcare
Personal Benefits of CPHQ
Tool for career/financial advancement
Identifies you as a qualified individual to your employer,
others. Provides your employer & the public with the
assurance that you have the necessary skills &
knowledge to perform competently.
Personal satisfaction in being a CPHQ, an
internationally recognized commitment to excellence…
WORLD CLASS – CERTIFIED -
PROFESSIONAL
Contact Information
www.cphq.org
Healthcare Quality Certification Board
P. O. Box 19604
Lenexa, KS 66285-9604, USA
International +1-913-895-4609
Toll free U.S./Canada 1-800-346-4722
Facsimile 1-913-895-4652
