JB Quality Solutions Inc.

The Short Story of Certification, the Handbook, and the Workshop

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) designation requires, first, successful completion of what has become an international examination, and then ongoing maintenance of CPHQ status through continuing education. The exam was first offered in 1984. The Healthcare Quality Certification Board (HQCB) began year-round computerized testing for the CPHQ Exam on September 1, 2002.

2008 marks the 23rd year Janet Brown has been actively involved in promoting certification for healthcare quality professionals. After six years developing a comprehensive hospital quality assurance program integrating quality, utilization, clinical risk management, patient representative, infection control, discharge planning, and social services she began consulting in 1984 and that year passed the first Certification Exam.

The precursor to the Workshop was a half-day session for 12 colleagues of Janet's who wanted study help prior to taking the second Certification Exam in 1985. She put together approximately 50 pages of "helpful study materials" for that group. That initial handout has grown into the 900-page, eight-chapter, annually revised Healthcare Quality Handbook: A Professional Resource and Study Guide. The Handbook has become the primary text used by those preparing for certification and is a resource used on a daily basis by quality professionals around the world.

The Healthcare Quality Handbook is the text for the Healthcare Quality Overview and Certification Workshops, sponsored each year by the California Association for Healthcare Quality (CAHQ) in partnership with Janet.

The Workshops officially began in 1986 when Janet developed and taught the first study session presented by National Association for Healthcare Quality. She began teaching with CAHQ the next year. Janet is teaching three Workshops per year now with CAHQ to support the year-round schedule: Thursdays and Fridays in February, July, and October, at the Ontario Airport Marriott in Southern California. The Workshops are attended, not only by those preparing for certification, but by many who are new to the field and seeking an integrated overview or by experienced professionals who simply want a current update and continuing education hours. The July Workshop is recorded each year and is offered in Audio CD and MP3 format.