CPHQ Test Questions

Question 1

The utilization management committee is reviewing length-of-stay data for a particular procedures. In comparing data by physician, which of the following statistics will be most useful?

A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. Range

Answer 1

mean; often used to describe average length of stay for comparison and is used with the standard deviation to understand the variability around the mean

Question 2

When a team evaluating the use of restraints starts to discuss a liability claim related to a patient, the facilitator should

A. Redirect the Team
B. Consult the Risk Manager
C. Request the medical record
D. Review team ground rules

Answer 2

A. Redirect the team; redirection is needed to move team back on topic and towards performance improvement effort

Question 3

Training is being determined based on treatment record review results. The following weighted results are available:

Category: Item Weight: Compliance %
Assessment 1.5 90%
Communication 0.5 75%
Care Plan 1.5 80%
Notes 1.0 75%
Discharge 1.0 80%

Answer 3

Care Plan; ranked by weight and non-compliance (weight*(100%-compliance%), Care Plan is highest weighted rank

Question 4

Control Chart with 8 points above or below the center line shows:
A. Process improvement
B. No process improvement
C. Evidence of trend
D. Evidence of an outlier

Answer 4

Process improvement

Question 5

Generic screening is an example of risk:

A. Evaluation
B. Reduction
C. Prevention
D. Identification

Answer 5

Identification

Question 6

Failure modes can be prioritized by calculating the criticality index. Which of the following three categories are normally used to calculate a criticality index?
A. probability, likelihood, and criticality
B. frequency, severity, and ease of detection
C. effectiveness, risk and priority
D. response, evidence and outcome

Answer 6

Frequency, severity, & ease of detection

Question 7

Which of the following is the best tool to begin an investigation into the causes of laboratory labeling errors?

A. Affinity diagram
B. Prioritization Matrix
C. Flow chart
D. Histogram

Answer 7

Flow Chart

Question 8

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:
A. Medical record not reviewed by a physician
B. staff member not using proper handwashing technique
C. near miss from failure to perform a “time-out”
D. patient complaint regarding wait times

Answer 8

Near miss from failure to perform a “time-out”; other choices are not adverse events

Question 9

Which of the following obstetrical outcomes will result in a morbidity review?
A. normal deliveries
B. neonatal deaths
C. post-delivery septicemia
D. cesarean sections

Answer 9

Post-delivery septicemia (morbidity= disease, mortality=death)

Question 10

Data collected about surgical cases shows significant delays. Further analysis shows the following: Staff surgeon not available as leading cause
A.
B. Provide the service chief with further analyses of surgeon-specific data
C.
D. Form a multidisciplinary team to develop recommendations for improvement

Question 11

Volatility in nursing workload is less likely to be reported that other sources of waste because:
A. Nurses are unlikely to complain.
B. It can only be perceived through the use of advanced metrics.
C. It is less observable.
D. It takes place infrequently.

Answer 11

It is less observable

Question 12

Techniques of utilization management include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Case management
B. Demand management
C. Peer Review
D. Disease management

Answer 12

Peer review

Question 13

Which of the following accreditation organization provides voluntary accreditation to health & human service organizations, such as behavioral health, medical rehabilitation, opioid treatment programs, and youth services?
A. CARF
B. DNV
C. TJC
D. AAAHC

Answer 13

CARF

Question 14

Preadmission services should based admission criteria on:
A. Age & gender
B. Insurance coverage
C. Possible diagnosis
D. Prognosis

Answer 14

Possible diagnosis

Question 15

Which theorist’s change model differs from traditional models due to its focus on the human aspect?
A. Kotter’s
B. Galpin’s
C. Lewin’s
D. DeWeaver & Gillespie’s

Answer 15

Galpin (Human Side of Change model)

Question 16

Because of a doctor’s poor handwriting, a prescription must be reworked before it leaves the pharmacy. Which of the following is true?
A. The doctor should be reprimanded.
B. The pharmacy should incorporate barcoding.
C. The prescription should not count towards the pharmacy’s yield.
D. The error should be reported to the FDA.

Answer 16

The prescription should not count towards the pharmacy’s yield.

In LEAN, only the processes that are completed without rework or repair are considered part of the yield.

Question 17

One advantage of the kaizen approach to DMAIC implementation is that:
A. It replicates the project-team approach.
B. All team members are involved in all phases of the process.
C. It can be performed while employees complete their normal tasks.
D. It is accomplished in about a week.

Answer 17

It is accomplished in about a week.

This success refutes argument that 6-sigma is costly and time consuming, but all other operations cease during that week.

Question 18

One of the consequences of successful application of the theory of constraints is:
A. Major system changes
B. Fewer employees
C. The creation of new constraints
D. Capital improvements

Answer 18

The creation of new constraints

Question 19

Before the start of a performance improvement process, the healthcare quality management professional should do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Develop outcome measurements to determine the results of the performance improvement process
B. Assist in developing projects for performance improvement teams to complete during the process.
D. Create educational opportunities for employees and staff members to learn about and apply performance improvement results.
D. Participate in establishing priorities for the activities that will occur during the performance improvement process.

Answer 19

Create educational opportunities for employees and staff members to learn about and apply performance improvement results.

Question 20

Which of the following can be defined as “a set of measures and data that give managers and administrators a quick yet comprehensive overview of performance:?
A. Process measurement
B. Balanced scorecard
C. Dashboard
D. Six Sigma

Answer 20

Balanced scorecard (dashboard less quick/comprehensive)

Question 21

The highest level of measurement is:
A. Interval
B. Nominal
C. Ordinal
D. Ratio

Answer 21

Ratio (ratio scale has absolute zero)

Question 22

Which of the following is a patient safety goal identified by The Joint Commission?
A. Cut service times in emergency departments.
B. Apply Six Sigma principles to sentinel events.
C. Improve the effectiveness of caregiver communications.
D. Establish strong customer service numbers among patients.

Answer 22

Improve the effectiveness of caregiver communications.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT mandatory in a generic medication dispensing program?
A. The active ingredient must be the same.
B. The chemical composition must be the same.
C. The salt form must be the same.
D. The dosage form must be the same.

Answer 23

The salt form must be the same.

Question 24

In general, how many steps should a failure modes and effects analysis take in each direction?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 5
D. 10

Answer 24

2

After ID cause of error, could id cause of that error, but don’t go too far down this hypothetical path

Question 25

All of the following are factors that influence sample size EXCEPT: A. purpose of research B. population size C. Level of confidence desired D. Power analysis

Answer 25

Power analysis (tool to determine appropriate sample size, but not factor that influences sample size)

Question 26

The healthcare quality management professional should work to integrate performance improvements into all areas of a healthcare facility's governance EXCEPT: A. Bylaws B. Committee meetings C. Administrative policies D. Facility procedures

Answer 26

Committee meetings

Question 27

Which organization conducts surveys on patient safety culture? A. AHRQ B. TJC C. NAHQ D. NQF

Answer 27

AHRQ

Question 28

A hospital's medication system is vast, and various elements of it fall within the purview of several different departments. One important step towards reducing errors in this system is to: A. Make each department responsible for the system as a whole B. Have each department use the same self-assessment tools C. Give a single person responsibility for overseeing the entire system. D. Simplify it.

Answer 28

Give a single person responsibility for overseeing the entire system.

Question 29

The system limits of a process typically are base don the average and standard deviation of the: A. Yield and error rate B. Duration and validity D. Yield and duration D. Validity and yield

Answer 29

Yield and duration

Question 30

The frequency of errors in a particular process would best be displayed in a(n): A. Matrix diagram B. Pareto chart C. Affinity diagram D. Histogram

Answer 30

Pareto chart

Question 31

What is the management term for a comprehensive expression of an organization's identity and purpose? A. Vision statement B. Mission statement C. Cultural statement D. Organizational statement

Answer 31

Mission statement

Question 32

According to the change theory (Lewin, Schein), the first stage, motivation to change (unfreezing), may be characterized by: A. Overriding of defensive actions B. Change in perceptions of self and relationships C. Identification of needed changes D. Survival anxiety and learning anxiety

Answer 32

Change in perceptions of self and relationships (motivation to change-unfreezing; desire to change- unfrozen; development of permanent change- refreezing)

Question 33

What is one advantage of a voluntary error reporting system over a mandatory error reporting system? A. Mandatory systems are only targeted at very narrow areas of practice. B. Voluntary systems eliminate the need for communication between healthcare organizations. C. Voluntary systems elicit more reports from front-line practitioners. D. Mandatory systems discourage the reporting of non-fatal errors.

Answer 33

Voluntary systems elicit more reports from front-line practitioners.

Question 34

Which of the following documented orders could lead to error? A. MS 10mg IV stat B. Insulin Glulisine 70 units TID 15 minutes before each meal C. Levothyroxine 112 mcg daily D. Cogentin 0.5 mg BID

Answer 34

MS 10mg IV stat (MS could be interpreted as two different drugs)

Question 35

What is the most important element of a disaster/emergency preparedness plan? A. Readily available information and practice drills B. Transfer protocols C. Triage D. Chain of command

Answer 35

Readily available information and practice drills

Question 36

Which of the following was designed for doctors and nurses to ensure that they are treating the correct patient with the correct medicine, at the correct dose, in order to avoid medical errors? A. Patient armbands B. BCMA C. MRNs D. JCI

Answer 36

BCMA Barcode medication administration

Question 37

To comply with OSHA regulations, a healthcare worker exposed to HIV though a needlestick must be monitored after exposure for at least: A. 12 months B. 8 months C. 6 months D. 3 months

Answer 37

3 months

Question 38

If present-on-admission indicators for diagnoses have been frequently overlooked for patients because of inadequate data collection and evaluation, the most likely impact for the organization is: A. Negligible impact B. Misclassification as complications C. Inadequate patient care D. Decreased patient satisfaction

Answer 38

Misclassification as complications

Question 39

How many individuals usually form a quality circle? A. 1-2 B. 3-4 C. 5-10 D. 10-15

Answer 39

10-15 (essentially a quality committee)

Question 40

Which of the following indicates one primary responsibility of the healthcare quality management professional in linking risk management with a facility's overall performance improvement goals? A. Complete a risk management assessment, and integrate this assessment with performance improvement activities for the facility B. Detail risk prevention activities for the facility, and identify opportunities for updating or redefining performance improvement goals C. Review the major causes of risk within the facility, and develop a performance improvement program to reduce or eliminate them D. Assemble a performance improvement team to address potential risk within the facility and present the administration with recommended changes.

Answer 40

Complete a risk management assessment, and integrate this assessment with performance improvement activities for the facility

Question 41

If the load and the mix of a testing laboratory are leveled, the result will be: A. decrease in capacity B. reduction in cost D. increase in capacity and/or reduction in cost D. increase in capacity or an increase in cost

Answer 41

increase in capacity and/or reduction in cost (leveling, aka smoothing, reduces the volatility of the workload and makes it possible for lab to process more samples, reduce the costs of operation, or both. The mix of a lab is the composition and diversity of the samples, while load is the volume of samples).

Question 42

The type of outcomes data that includes measure of longevity and cost-effectiveness is: A. Clinical B. Perception C. Integrative D. Physiological

Answer 42

Integrative

Question 43

Which of the following is a structure designed to help facilitate team or group pursuit of specific goals and objectives? A. Management B. Organization C. Intelligent design D. Delegation

Answer 43

Organization