CPHQ - Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality

1

Quality Leadership & Integration

Learning Objectives:

Understand strategic quality planning and governance.
Align quality/safety activities with organizational strategy.

Key Topics

Strategic planning for quality improvement
Developing action plans and projects
Setting priorities
Supporting the quality governance infrastructure
Aligning quality and safety activities with strategic goals
Engaging stakeholders and promoting teamwork

Learning Activities

Module lecture, case discussion on strategic quality plan, short assignment: draft mission aligned quality objective

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 1 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ).
• Relevant chapters on leadership and strategic planning from HQ Solutions.

Deliverable

One page Quality Strategic Objective (peer review)

2

Performance & Process Improvement (Part I)

Learning Objectives:

Identify improvement opportunities and form improvement teams.
Learn basic improvement methodologies.

Key Topics

Quality improvement training
Identifying quality improvement opportunities
Forming teams and defining roles and responsibilities

Learning Activities

Interactive lecture, team exercise: select an improvement opportunity and draft a charter

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 2 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ) – Part 1.
• Relevant chapters on process improvement fundamentals from HQ Solutions.
• Case studies on quality improvement initiatives.
• Focus: Understanding the basic principles of performance improvement and how to initiate improvement projects.

Deliverable

Improvement Team Charter (short template)

3

Performance & Process Improvement (Part II)

Learning Objectives:

Apply Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA and QI tools such as fishbone, FMEA, process mapping.

Key Topics

Leading and facilitating change.
Using performance improvement methods (e.g., Lean, PDSA, Six Sigma).
Applying quality tools and techniques (e.g., Fishbone Diagram, FMEA, Process Mapping).
Monitoring project timelines and outcomes
Evaluating team effectiveness and success of performance improvement solutions.

Learning Activities

Process mapping workshop, RCA exercise, improvement project simulation

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 2 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ) – Part 2.
• Relevant chapters on advanced methodologies and tools for process improvement from HQ Solutions.
• Practice applying various quality tools through examples and exercises.
• Focus: Mastering process improvement methodologies and tools and applying them in practice.

Deliverable

Process Analysis Report with Improvement Recommendations

4

Population Health & Care Transitions

Learning Objectives:

Describe population health concepts and strategies for care transitions.
Identify data needs for population health programs.

Key Topics

Identifying key data and resources to assess population health status.
Strategies for population health management.
Integrating prevention, wellness, and disease management solutions.
Addressing health disparities and promoting equity.
Analyzing clinical, cost, equity, and social determinants of health data.
Identifying opportunities to improve care transitions.
Collaborating with stakeholders to enhance care processes and transitions.
Incorporating social determinants of health concepts into improvement activities.

Learning Activities

Lecture + case analysis of a transitions of care failure, group discussion.

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 3 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ).
• Relevant chapters on population health and care transitions from HQ Solutions.
• Review of guidelines and articles on population health management.
• Focus: Understanding how to improve population-level health outcomes and manage care transitions effectively.

Deliverable

Gap analysis and recommendation memo for a transitions improvement

5

Health Data Analytics

Learning Objectives:

Design data collection plans and select appropriate measures..
Use basic statistics and SPC for quality monitoring.

Key Topics

Evaluate and develop data management systems.
Design data collection plans (measure development, tools/techniques, sampling methodology).
Identify and select measures (structure, process, outcome, experience).
Collect and validate quantitative and qualitative data.
Identify external data sources for benchmarking and calibration.
Design dashboards for different audiences.
Use data management systems for analysis and reporting.
Apply data visualization techniques.
Use measurement tools to assess process improvement.
Apply statistics to describe data and examine relationships (central tendency, standard deviation, correlation, regression, t-test).
Use statistical process control (SPC) tools (common/special cause variation, control charts, trend analysis).
Interpret data to support decision-making.

Learning Activities

Hands on exercises with sample datasets (interpret charts, compute basic stats), dashboard mockup task.

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 4 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ). • Relevant chapters on data analytics and statistics from HQ Solutions.
• Practice data analysis and interpretation using sample datasets.
• Focus: Develop healthcare data analysis skills and use them to drive improvements.

Deliverable

Short dashboard screenshot + interpretation paragraph.

6

Patient Safety

Learning Objectives:

Apply patient safety frameworks and RCA.
Understand reporting, safety culture, and proactive risk assessment.

Key Topics

Identify technological solutions to enhance patient safety.
Facilitate continuous evaluation of safety activities.
Apply techniques to promote a culture of safety across the organization.
Integrate safety concepts organization-wide.
Use safety principles (e.g., human factors engineering, high reliability, high-performing teams, systems thinking).
Participate in safety and risk management activities, including:
- Reporting safety events/incidents.
- Reviewing sentinel/unexpected events.
- Conducting Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
- Performing proactive risk assessments.

Learning Activities

RCA simulation, safety culture survey review, case debrief.

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Unit 5 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ).
• Relevant chapters on patient safety and risk management from HQ Solutions.
• Case studies on patient safety incidents, their analysis, and prevention strategies.
• Focus: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of patient safety principles and applying them in practice.

Deliverable

RCA summary and proposed corrective actions.

7

Quality Review, Accountability, Regulation & Accreditation

Key Topics

Apply standards and best practices from quality-related organizations.
Evaluate compliance with internal and external requirements for:
- Clinical guidelines, pathways, and outcomes.
- Quality-based payment programs.
- Documentation.
- Practitioner performance evaluation.
- Patient experience.
Identify reportable events for accreditation and regulatory bodies.
Maintain confidentiality of performance/quality improvement records and reports.
Implement and evaluate quality initiatives that impact reimbursement.

Key Topics (Regulations and Accreditation)

Assessing appropriate accreditation, certification, and recognition options.
Raising awareness of legal and regulatory requirements within the organization.
Supporting processes for evaluating, monitoring, and improving compliance with regulatory and federal requirements.
Maintaining survey or accreditation readiness.

Learning Activities

Accreditation readiness checklist exercise, mock survey prep

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Units 6 and 7 of the CPHQ Online Review Course (NAHQ).
• Chapters on compliance and accreditation from HQ Solutions.
• Review of major regulatory standards and accrediting bodies.
• Focus: Understanding the regulatory framework and accreditation standards governing healthcare quality.

Deliverable

Short accreditation readiness checklist for one department

8

Comprehensive Review & Mock Exams

Key Topics

Review all seven exam domains
Focus on areas needing improvement based on practice test results
Solve as many practice questions and mock exams as possible
Understand the rationale behind correct and incorrect answers
Practice effective time management during the exam

Learning Activities

Full length practice tests, item review sessions, Q&A

Suggested Courses/Resources:

• Use the Comprehensive CPHQ Pre-Test (NAHQ).
• Practice tests from Mometrix or ExamTopics.
• Review personal notes and summaries.
• Focus: Strengthen knowledge, identify weaknesses, and improve test-taking strategies.

Deliverable

Personal study plan based on mock test results

Course Overview

Key Features

Objectives & Target Audience

Certification Objectives

Target Audience

Program Snapshot

Duration

Format

Final Exam Format

Passing Score

Primary Resources

Weekly Breakdown

Quality Leadership & Integration

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Performance & Process Improvement (Part I)

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Performance & Process Improvement (Part II)

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Population Health & Care Transitions

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Health Data Analytics

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Patient Safety

Learning Objectives:

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Quality Review, Accountability, Regulation & Accreditation

Key Topics

Key Topics (Regulations and Accreditation)

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Comprehensive Review & Mock Exams

Key Topics

Learning Activities

Suggested Courses/Resources:

Deliverable

Assessment & Learning Materials

Assessment & Grading

CPHQ Exam Details (for reference):

Learning Materials & Tools

Certificate & Completion

Dual Certification Opportunity

Completion Requirements: