CPHQ case studies
CPHQ · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a professional credential administered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), which describes it as the only accredited certification in healthcare quality. Unlike clinical specialty credentials, the CPHQ validates knowledge and skills across the healthcare quality discipline as a whole, so it draws quality directors and managers, patient safety and performance improvement staff, accreditation and regulatory specialists, data analysts working with quality measures, and clinicians moving into quality roles. The exam is built on the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, which NAHQ describes as the industry standard defining the quality and safety competencies, skills, and behaviors required to advance excellence across the healthcare continuum. Exam content is commonly organized into four broad areas - organizational leadership, health data analytics, performance and process improvement, and patient safety - but candidates should confirm the authoritative content outline and current domain weights directly with NAHQ before building a study plan, since published weightings change between exam revisions. The CPHQ case studies are 5 cases and about 3,256 words.
1The Board's Single Quality Narrative
You are the quality director at a 240-bed community hospital. The board quality committee meets in three weeks.
649 words, about 3 min2CLABSI SIR Rise After a Midline Initiative
The infection preventionist reports that the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) standardized infection ratio (SIR) rose from 0.7 to 1.6 over two quarters. The raw CLABSI count went from 3 to 4.
676 words, about 3 min3ED Flow Under a No-New-FTE Constraint
A 350-bed hospital's emergency department has door-to-provider time of 52 minutes (target 30), left-without-being-seen (LWBS) of 4.6% (target under 2%), and 18% of admitted patients boarding more than 4 hours. The ED has 42 beds and peak arrivals from 11 a.m.
643 words, about 3 min4Near-Miss Laterality Error and Just Culture
A 68-year-old patient was scheduled for right knee arthroscopy. Because of a scheduling error in the EHR, the surgeon marked the left knee in pre-op.
656 words, about 3 min5Hand Hygiene: 94% Reported Versus What the Product Data Show
A 400-bed hospital reports hand hygiene compliance of 94% from about 120 direct observations per month. Most observations are conducted by unit managers on day shift.
632 words, about 3 min