CPHQ Performance and Process Improvement 2

Question 1

A hospital notices its central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate has increased over 3 months. Which improvement methodology would BEST guide a structured root cause analysis?

Accepted Answer

Lean Six Sigma DMAIC

Answer

DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) provides a structured framework for identifying root causes and implementing data-driven improvements.

Question 2

When using statistical process control (SPC), a point falling beyond the upper control limit on an X-bar chart indicates:

Accepted Answer

A special cause requiring investigation

Answer

Points beyond control limits signal special cause variation, which is non-random and requires investigation to identify and eliminate the assignable cause.

Question 3

A quality team wants to prioritize which of 12 identified process failures to address first. The MOST appropriate tool is:

Accepted Answer

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Answer

FMEA scores each failure by severity, occurrence, and detectability to calculate a Risk Priority Number, enabling systematic prioritization of improvement efforts.

Question 4

In process improvement, 'waste' in the Lean framework includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Staff education and training

Answer

Lean identifies eight types of waste (DOWNTIME), and staff education is considered value-added activity, not waste.

Question 5

A quality professional is evaluating whether a new patient discharge process is superior to the old one. Which statistical test is MOST appropriate for comparing two proportions?

Accepted Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

The chi-square test is used to compare proportions or frequencies between categorical groups, such as discharge complication rates between two process groups.

CPHQ - Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality Practice Test

CPHQ - Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality Practice Test

CPHQ Performance and Process Improvement 2