NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
Certification EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
b. Involve individuals directly affected by the change - answer>>The best way to facilitate change in
healthcare organization is to:
a. Communicate through group meetings
b. Involve individuals directly affected by the change
c. Arrange presentations by senior leaders
d. Communicate through a group email
a. Ishikawa diagram - answer>>In evaluating long wait times, a quality professional can best
demonstrate components related to staffing, methods, measures, materials, and equipment by using:
a. Ishikawa diagram
b. Pie chart
c. Run chart
d. Histogram
a. 6 consecutive ascending data points - answer>>Which of the following demonstrates a true statistical
increase in a run chart?
a. 6 consecutive ascending data points
b. Data points close to the mean line
c. 7 descending data points
d. A zigzag pattern of data points
d. 0.60 - answer>>The relationship between patient satisfaction and hours per day on a medical unit
was found to be (r=0.60, p<0.05). What is the correlation between these two values?
a. 0.05
b. 0.36
,c. 0.55
d. 0.60
d. Providing outcome data at medical staff meetings - answer>>The most effective way for a healthcare
quality professional to communicate quality improvement activities to the medical staff is by:
a. Inviting medical staff to an in-service on quality tools
b. Evaluating physician participation on quality teams
c. Developing professional relationships
d. Providing outcome data at medical staff meetings
b. Data analysis and display - answer>>Which of the following is an essential component in a
performance improvement report?
a. Team composition and attendance
b. Data analysis and display
c. Individual performance review
d. Governing body approval
c. Improve performance - answer>>The primary reason healthcare orgs use benchmarking is to:
a. Provide risk adjustment
b. Decrease risk to the org
c. Improve performance
d. Comply with accreditation
a. A random sample of annual discharges/visits per unit - answer>>A small rural hospital wishes to
evaluate customer satisfaction using a survey. The organization has 4 patient care units, an ED, and an
ambulatory unit. Which of the following survey methods provides the most reliable information?
a. A random sample of annual discharges/visits per unit
b. All discharges/visits in January and July
c. A random sample of annual discharges/visits
, d. All discharges/visits of customers with a last name beginning with A-E
b. Lack proper reference points for interpretation - answer>>Rationale: A random sample of annual
discharges/visits per unit provides a sample from all units which will yield the most valid information for
a comparison of each unit
The major drawback of using raw numbers to present the results of quality monitoring is that they:
a. May be used for focused review
b. Lack proper reference points for interpretation
c. Cannot be graphed
d. Only measure compliance to established criteria
d. Control chart
Rationale: Control charts display variation and stability of a process within defined upper and lower
limits. - answer>>The best tool to display stability of nosocomial infection rates over time is a:
a. Pareto chart
b. Histogram
c. Run chart
d. Control chart
c. Define objectives of the performance review, develop data collection form, pilot test
Rationale: Objectives must be defined first - answer>>A number of specialty and primary care clinicians
have participated in several meetings to develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of
diabetes. The team leader has moved the team through the actual guideline development. Which of the
following sequences of steps should the team consider in developing the quality of care product
evaluation phase?
a. Identify medical review criteria, identify sampling methods to be used, pilot test
b. Identify populations covered by the guideline, identify the data sources, conduct the review
c. Define objectives of the performance review, develop data collection form, pilot test
d. Consider costs of the review, identify clinicians and sites of care, define objectives of the
performance review
Certification EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
b. Involve individuals directly affected by the change - answer>>The best way to facilitate change in
healthcare organization is to:
a. Communicate through group meetings
b. Involve individuals directly affected by the change
c. Arrange presentations by senior leaders
d. Communicate through a group email
a. Ishikawa diagram - answer>>In evaluating long wait times, a quality professional can best
demonstrate components related to staffing, methods, measures, materials, and equipment by using:
a. Ishikawa diagram
b. Pie chart
c. Run chart
d. Histogram
a. 6 consecutive ascending data points - answer>>Which of the following demonstrates a true statistical
increase in a run chart?
a. 6 consecutive ascending data points
b. Data points close to the mean line
c. 7 descending data points
d. A zigzag pattern of data points
d. 0.60 - answer>>The relationship between patient satisfaction and hours per day on a medical unit
was found to be (r=0.60, p<0.05). What is the correlation between these two values?
a. 0.05
b. 0.36
,c. 0.55
d. 0.60
d. Providing outcome data at medical staff meetings - answer>>The most effective way for a healthcare
quality professional to communicate quality improvement activities to the medical staff is by:
a. Inviting medical staff to an in-service on quality tools
b. Evaluating physician participation on quality teams
c. Developing professional relationships
d. Providing outcome data at medical staff meetings
b. Data analysis and display - answer>>Which of the following is an essential component in a
performance improvement report?
a. Team composition and attendance
b. Data analysis and display
c. Individual performance review
d. Governing body approval
c. Improve performance - answer>>The primary reason healthcare orgs use benchmarking is to:
a. Provide risk adjustment
b. Decrease risk to the org
c. Improve performance
d. Comply with accreditation
a. A random sample of annual discharges/visits per unit - answer>>A small rural hospital wishes to
evaluate customer satisfaction using a survey. The organization has 4 patient care units, an ED, and an
ambulatory unit. Which of the following survey methods provides the most reliable information?
a. A random sample of annual discharges/visits per unit
b. All discharges/visits in January and July
c. A random sample of annual discharges/visits
, d. All discharges/visits of customers with a last name beginning with A-E
b. Lack proper reference points for interpretation - answer>>Rationale: A random sample of annual
discharges/visits per unit provides a sample from all units which will yield the most valid information for
a comparison of each unit
The major drawback of using raw numbers to present the results of quality monitoring is that they:
a. May be used for focused review
b. Lack proper reference points for interpretation
c. Cannot be graphed
d. Only measure compliance to established criteria
d. Control chart
Rationale: Control charts display variation and stability of a process within defined upper and lower
limits. - answer>>The best tool to display stability of nosocomial infection rates over time is a:
a. Pareto chart
b. Histogram
c. Run chart
d. Control chart
c. Define objectives of the performance review, develop data collection form, pilot test
Rationale: Objectives must be defined first - answer>>A number of specialty and primary care clinicians
have participated in several meetings to develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of
diabetes. The team leader has moved the team through the actual guideline development. Which of the
following sequences of steps should the team consider in developing the quality of care product
evaluation phase?
a. Identify medical review criteria, identify sampling methods to be used, pilot test
b. Identify populations covered by the guideline, identify the data sources, conduct the review
c. Define objectives of the performance review, develop data collection form, pilot test
d. Consider costs of the review, identify clinicians and sites of care, define objectives of the
performance review
