NAHQ CPHQ Certification CPHQ New Questions

Explanation: Directing staff to the help desk for technical issues exemplifies deference to expertise (D), relying on specialized knowledge. Resilience (A), operations sensitivity (B), and failure preoccupation (C) are less relevant. NAHQ highlights expertise deference in HROs.

The best information for a Quality Council to evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement teams includes participant feedback about team dynamics, the ability of each team to meet pre-determined project milestones, and the results of the team's work. This combination provides a comprehensive assessment of how well teams functioned (dynamics), whether they met their goals on time (milestones), and the outcomes they achieved (results). This holistic approach allows the council to understand both the process and the results of the improvement efforts.

Comparative matrix of each team's goals and proficiency with statistical process control (B): While important, this focuses more on technical skills rather than overall effectiveness.

Team diversity and aggregate member satisfaction data (C): These factors contribute to team performance but are less direct measures of effectiveness.

Summary ofcharter, timeliness, and conflict prevention (D): These are important but do not address the actual outcomes and team dynamics as directly as option A.

References

NAHQ Body of Knowledge: Evaluating Quality Improvement Initiatives

NAHQ CPHQ Exam Preparation Materials: Measuring Team Effectiveness

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Communication is critical for aligning stakeholders, managing expectations, and ensuring the success of process improvement initiatives.

Option A (Project success): This is the correct answer. The NAHQ CPHQ study guide states, “A consistent and effective communication plan ensures stakeholder engagement, clarity of goals, and timely updates, facilitating project success” (Domain 3). Communication drives collaboration and implementation.

Option B (Clinical relevance): Clinical relevance is determined by the initiative’s design, not communication, which focuses on dissemination.

Option C (Buy-in from leadership): While communication supports leadership buy-in, its broader role is ensuring overall project success across all stakeholders.

Option D (Decreased costs): Communication may indirectly reduce costs by improving efficiency, but its primary role is project execution, not cost reduction.

CPHQ Objective Reference: Domain 3: Organizational Leadership, Objective 3.4, “Develop communication strategies for improvement initiatives,” emphasizes communication’s role in project success. The NAHQ study guide highlights consistent communication as a driver of stakeholder alignment and initiative outcomes.

Rationale: Effective communication ensures all stakeholders are informed and engaged, directly contributing to the success of process improvement projects, as per CPHQ leadership principles.

Based on the provided Pareto chart of general surgery readmission causes, the most significant causes should be addressed first to have the greatest impact on reducing readmissions.

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule): The chart illustrates that a small number of causes contribute to the majority of the readmissions. The top three causes—pain, constipation, and PCP (Primary Care Provider) unavailable—account for the most significant portion of the readmissions.

Prioritization of Interventions: By addressing these top three causes first, thehealthcare team can potentially prevent the majority of readmissions, making the intervention more efficient and effective.

Strategic Focus: Focusing on pain, constipation, and the unavailability of PCPs aligns with the principle of focusing on the "vital few" causes rather than spreading resources thinly across many less significant issues.