Correct Answers / Practice Exam for the CPHQ Test 2026/
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality Test 2026
A healthcare quality professional has been asked to examine a new method of
reviewing adverse events in an organization. It has been decided that a system of
triggers will be established to alert the Quality Council of a potential problem. The
best example of a trigger that should be set with a threshold of zero is a
1) medical record not completed by a physician
2) staff member not using proper handwashing technique
3) near miss from failure to perform a "time out"
4) patient complaint regarding wait times - ANSWER-3) near miss from failure to
perform a "time out"
A clinic is looking into adding a new computer software program to update an
outdated program. The new computer system will keep better track of patient
records and will enable the clinic to streamline the care that patients receive. What
is the healthcare quality management professional's role in this?
1) Research the history of the software to see how it has impacted other clinics
2) Create a simulation for the software to allow the clinic to see how it operates
day to day
3) Assist the clinic in evaluating the pros and cons of the software
4) Advise the clinic to implement the software because of its value in improving
patient care - ANSWER-3) Assist the clinic in evaluating the pros and cons of the
software
A hospital has implemented a quality program to improve the overall quality of
patient care. It is discovered, however, that the program is running over budget, so
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,the hospital administrative board conducts a review of the program to see if it
should continue. What is the healthcare quality management professional's role in
this?
1) Create a committee to review the quality program and develop a list of reasons
to keep it
2) Assist the administrative board in making a final decision about the quality
program
3) Evaluate the financial benefits of the program and demonstrate these to the
board
4) Prove to the administrative board that the quality program should continue in the
hospital - ANSWER-3) Evaluate the financial benefits of the program and
demonstrate these to the board
The healthcare quality management professional is not obligated to prove to the
board that the quality program should continue.
He also is unlikely to assist the board in making a final decision or creating a
committee to review the program.
the role is limited to one of evaluating the financial benefits and demonstrating
them as objectively as possible.
A hospital has found that the performance of one of its departments is consistently
below the expected standards. The hospital administration wants to locate the
source of the problems and see improvement in the department within six months.
What is the healthcare quality management professional's role in this?
pg. 2
,1) Review the expected standards and submit these to the department for
immediate application
2) Research the problems and develop a program that applies current standards to
the department
3) Recommend that the hospital replace the current administration of the individual
department
4) Advise that a performance improvement team be assembled to review and
address the failings - ANSWER-4) Advise that a performance improvement team
be assembled to review and address the failings
The healthcare quality management professional might be involved in researching
the problems, but the development of a program that applies the standards to the
department would exceed his responsibilities.
He would certainly not be expected to advise the hospital to replace the current
administration of the department; this would be the role of a larger group (such as a
performance improvement team) that takes the time to review the situation.
Also, he would need to do far more than simply submit the expected standards to
the department for application since they are already failing them
The administration of a hospital has discovered that a lack of communication
among different hospital departments has led to overspending and unnecessary
errors in patient care. The administration has asked the healthcare quality
management professional to assemble a team that can improve department
communication and address the problems. What type of team would be most useful
for this task?
pg. 3
, 1) cross functional
2) work group
3) quality circle
4) self-directed - ANSWER-1) cross functional
The key here is the need for a team that can find ways to improve communication
among the different departments. This type of team would need to be cross
functional, because it would be composed of people from the different departments
who would then be delegated to communicate with one another and pass on the
communication to others in their respective departments. The other types of teams
- work group, quality circle, and self-directed - all have their place in professional
improvement, but a cross-functional team would be best in this situation.
A healthcare quality management professional has all of the following
responsibilities toward improving patient safety EXCEPT:
1) Appointing a supervisor for a patient safety program
2) Incorporating new technology into a patient safety program
3) Helping to develop a patient safety program
4) Setting and reviewing goals for a patient safety program - ANSWER-1)
Appointing a supervisor for a patient safety program
In terms of improving patient safety, the healthcare quality management
professional's responsibilities include the following:
- helping to develop a patient safety program
- incorporating new technology into a patient safety program
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