CPHQ Practice Questions
1-CPHQ Practice Questions -(120 Qs).
Question 1
The scientific method in quality improvement is represented by
A. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis.
B. Statistical process control.
C. Sequential problem solving.
D. The PDCA cycle.
Answer: D
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle exemplifies the scientific method in quality improvement:
planning a change, doing it, checking to see its effect, and then acting on what we have learned by
either rejecting the change or making it a standard part of the process.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Determine applicability
of performance improvement models (e.g. PDCA, Six Sigma, Lean)
Question 2
Clinical practice guidelines reduce
A. Random variation.
B. Anticipated variation.
C. Assignable variation.
D. All types of variation.
Answer: C
Clinical practice guidelines reduce assignable variation. The latter arises from identifiable causes that
can be tracked and eliminated. In the context of clinical practice guidelines, assignable variation
represents inappropriate variation.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate
evaluation/selection of evidence-based practice guidelines (e.g. for standing orders or as guidelines for
physician ordering practice)
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
1
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 3
How should a team leader manage a disruptive member?
A. Discuss general group-process concerns without pointing out individuals.
B. Confront the offending team member in the presence of the team.
C. Talk privately with the disruptive team member.
D. Dismiss the offending team member.
Answer: C
The best approach to disruptive behavior is to talk privately to the offending team member, pointing
out that disruptive behavior seems inconsistent with a commitment to help the team succeed.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Participate on
performance/quality improvement teams (i.e. as a coordinator or team member/leader/facilitator)
Question 4
Benchmarking is a tool that compares current performance with
A. Performance of industry leaders.
B. Performance in similar organizations.
C. Performance goals.
D. All of the above.
Answer: A
In general, benchmarking means "measuring an organization's performance against that of best-in-
class companies, determining how the best in class achieve those performance levels and using the
information as a basis for one's own company targets, strategies and implementation.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Integrate the results of
performance/quality improvement process into strategic planning for the organization
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
2
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 5
When using quality measures, for which purpose are the requirements for validity and reliability the
highest?
A. Accountability
B. Quality improvement
C. Research
D. The requirements for validity and reliability are the same when using measures for
accountability, quality improvement, or research.
Answer: A
In general, the requirements for validity and reliability are highest when using quality measures for
accountability. According to the AHRQ, "uses of quality measures for the purpose of accountability
include purchaser and/or consumer decision making, variation in payment in relation to the level of
performance and/or certification of professionals or organizations.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Identify performance
measures/key performance/quality indicators (e.g. balanced scorecards, dashboards)
Question 6
What information will be considered a caution flag in credentialing activities?
A. A missing peer recommendation.
B. Missing dates or gaps in practice.
C. Licensure in more than one state.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D
Caution flags are those pieces of data or information that should send up warning signals to the
credentialing staff and the reviewers. Missing peer information, missing dates or gaps in practice, and
licensure in more than one state are all caution flags.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
3
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 7
Primary source verification may include
A. A faxed copy.
B. A copy from the practitioner.
C. A copy forwarded by another hospital.
D. None of the above.
Answer: D
Primary source verification may be accomplished by “mail, secure electronic communication
(including secure websites), or by telephone if the details of the verification are documented.” The
practitioner or another hospital is not a primary source of information
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Question 8
How does clinical peer review differ from quality improvement?
A. Clinical peer review monitors activities of physicians while quality improvement is focused on
organizational activity.
B. Clinical peer review is focused on individual practitioners while quality improvement focuses
on process.
C. Peer review identifies outliers to standard practice while quality improvement is concerned
with the process in which outliers will be addressed.
D. There is no difference between the two activities.
Answer: B
Clinical peer review may be considered part of an organization's quality improvement activities. Its
focus is not confined to physicians only (answer option A) but also nurses, pharmacists, and other
health care professionals. Peer review does not only aim to identify outliers to standard practice
(answer option C), e.g. it may include evaluation of evidence-based practice.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
4
1-CPHQ Practice Questions -(120 Qs).
Question 1
The scientific method in quality improvement is represented by
A. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis.
B. Statistical process control.
C. Sequential problem solving.
D. The PDCA cycle.
Answer: D
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle exemplifies the scientific method in quality improvement:
planning a change, doing it, checking to see its effect, and then acting on what we have learned by
either rejecting the change or making it a standard part of the process.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Determine applicability
of performance improvement models (e.g. PDCA, Six Sigma, Lean)
Question 2
Clinical practice guidelines reduce
A. Random variation.
B. Anticipated variation.
C. Assignable variation.
D. All types of variation.
Answer: C
Clinical practice guidelines reduce assignable variation. The latter arises from identifiable causes that
can be tracked and eliminated. In the context of clinical practice guidelines, assignable variation
represents inappropriate variation.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate
evaluation/selection of evidence-based practice guidelines (e.g. for standing orders or as guidelines for
physician ordering practice)
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
1
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 3
How should a team leader manage a disruptive member?
A. Discuss general group-process concerns without pointing out individuals.
B. Confront the offending team member in the presence of the team.
C. Talk privately with the disruptive team member.
D. Dismiss the offending team member.
Answer: C
The best approach to disruptive behavior is to talk privately to the offending team member, pointing
out that disruptive behavior seems inconsistent with a commitment to help the team succeed.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Application
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Participate on
performance/quality improvement teams (i.e. as a coordinator or team member/leader/facilitator)
Question 4
Benchmarking is a tool that compares current performance with
A. Performance of industry leaders.
B. Performance in similar organizations.
C. Performance goals.
D. All of the above.
Answer: A
In general, benchmarking means "measuring an organization's performance against that of best-in-
class companies, determining how the best in class achieve those performance levels and using the
information as a basis for one's own company targets, strategies and implementation.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Integrate the results of
performance/quality improvement process into strategic planning for the organization
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
2
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 5
When using quality measures, for which purpose are the requirements for validity and reliability the
highest?
A. Accountability
B. Quality improvement
C. Research
D. The requirements for validity and reliability are the same when using measures for
accountability, quality improvement, or research.
Answer: A
In general, the requirements for validity and reliability are highest when using quality measures for
accountability. According to the AHRQ, "uses of quality measures for the purpose of accountability
include purchaser and/or consumer decision making, variation in payment in relation to the level of
performance and/or certification of professionals or organizations.
Content Category: Management and Leadership
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Identify performance
measures/key performance/quality indicators (e.g. balanced scorecards, dashboards)
Question 6
What information will be considered a caution flag in credentialing activities?
A. A missing peer recommendation.
B. Missing dates or gaps in practice.
C. Licensure in more than one state.
D. All of the above.
Answer: D
Caution flags are those pieces of data or information that should send up warning signals to the
credentialing staff and the reviewers. Missing peer information, missing dates or gaps in practice, and
licensure in more than one state are all caution flags.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
3
, CPHQ Practice Questions
Question 7
Primary source verification may include
A. A faxed copy.
B. A copy from the practitioner.
C. A copy forwarded by another hospital.
D. None of the above.
Answer: D
Primary source verification may be accomplished by “mail, secure electronic communication
(including secure websites), or by telephone if the details of the verification are documented.” The
practitioner or another hospital is not a primary source of information
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Question 8
How does clinical peer review differ from quality improvement?
A. Clinical peer review monitors activities of physicians while quality improvement is focused on
organizational activity.
B. Clinical peer review is focused on individual practitioners while quality improvement focuses
on process.
C. Peer review identifies outliers to standard practice while quality improvement is concerned
with the process in which outliers will be addressed.
D. There is no difference between the two activities.
Answer: B
Clinical peer review may be considered part of an organization's quality improvement activities. Its
focus is not confined to physicians only (answer option A) but also nurses, pharmacists, and other
health care professionals. Peer review does not only aim to identify outliers to standard practice
(answer option C), e.g. it may include evaluation of evidence-based practice.
Content Category: Performance Measurement and Improvement
Cognitive level required for a response: Recall
Tasks on the CPHQ exam content outline to which the question is linked: Facilitate or participate
in the credentialing and privileging process (e.g. Focused Professional Practitioner Evaluation (FPPE),
Ongoing Professional Practitioner Evaluation (OPPE))
Selected & Prepared by Alaa M. Abu Al Rub, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, CPKPI, CRM
4
