Quality Assurance & Improvement Flashcards
7 cards from real CED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality Assurance & Improvement flashcards as text
Which scenario represents a leading indicator in quality management, as opposed to a lagging indicator?
Answer: Percentage of clients completing the intake screening within 48 hours
Leading indicators measure process adherence early enough to predict and influence outcomes, unlike lagging indicators that report past results.
An executive director implements peer review of case files among supervisors. Which quality function does this practice serve?
Answer: Providing a calibration mechanism to ensure consistent quality judgments across supervisors
Peer review among supervisors calibrates standards and reduces individual bias in quality assessments.
Which principle guides the concept of 'quality at the source' in service delivery organizations?
Answer: Each staff member is responsible for the quality of their own work at the point of service
Quality at the source empowers staff to identify and correct errors immediately rather than relying on downstream inspection.
A funder requires the organization to report on 'outputs' as well as 'outcomes.' How does an executive director best distinguish the two in a quality report?
Answer: Outputs measure units of service delivered; outcomes measure changes in client knowledge, behavior, or status
Outputs count activities and services delivered, while outcomes measure the actual changes those services produce in clients.
An organization has high staff turnover affecting service quality. Which quality improvement strategy directly addresses the human capital dimension of this problem?
Answer: Implementing structured onboarding, mentoring, and knowledge management systems
Structured onboarding and knowledge management preserve institutional knowledge and reduce the quality impact of staff transitions.
A CED candidate reviews an organization that conducts internal audits but never shares findings with frontline staff. What quality improvement principle is being violated?
Answer: Transparency and feedback loop closure required for learning organizations
Effective quality improvement requires sharing audit findings with those who can act on them, creating a closed feedback loop for learning.
Which approach best describes a 'learning organization' in the context of quality assurance?
Answer: An organization that systematically reflects on performance data and adapts practices based on evidence
A learning organization uses performance data and reflection to continuously adapt and improve its practices, embedding learning into organizational culture.