Preparing for the CHP Exam: A personal journey!
By Larry Dunham, RHIA, CHP

Since I sat for the CHP examination I have been asked tons of times…."What is on the Test?" My blanket answer believe it or not is…."I really can't remember details of the questions". Which is absolutely true! Also in the testing center on-line introduction to the test, you are also attesting to a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" type of acknowledgement….so to speak--so if I told you I would have to kill you!!

For me the test was a personal objective and I went ahead and submitted my application on-line for the test with my payment for the exam….knowing I had just paid out $250 and because I am cheap…..I had to now force myself to study and take the test or loose the money. I then received a confirmation a few days later saying I had six months to schedule and complete the test. Again, you can go on-line and see where the testing centers are located in your area.

The test itself is a Certification of Healthcare Privacy, not a HIPAA aptitude test which everyone thinks as did I in my initial preparations. However, I had evaluated the HIPAA Communities of Practice to follow discussions and also saw comments on areas of study and went from there.
I can not emphasize enough that you do need to know and understand the principals of HIPAA but the test in general qualifies your understanding of solving patient privacy scenarios that we address each and every day. I think the key "shocker" from everyone that I have talked to who has taken the test is that you need to definitely know the correct answer, but you also need to think logically into what is the best process to solve the scenario and the steps in the process that will lead you to the correct answers. Yes, multiple choice answers with the top two answers that solve a posed question within a scenario. Confused? Well, the processes of problem resolution that comes with experience and that is outlined in the many resources that are available can help you tremendously. The way I tackled the test is to try and put myself in the scenario and to answer it as I would resolve the proposed privacy concern.

Examination Specifications
The test itself is made up of 120 questions where 20 questions are not counted in the testing but are used in establishing use for future questions and ultimately providing for a total score of 100. I recommend reading the on-line instructions completely so you feel comfortable about moving forward. There are several pre-questions to get you used to the test. The biggest shocker is the webcam photo of yourself in the upper right hand of the screen that shows the "fright" on your face as you begin the test. But one function that I used a lot was the one that allowed me to flag a question to come back to me so I could skip it and have it come back to me. Again, read instructions so you do not skip a question and not have it come back!!

The multiple-choice questions are written at three different cognitive levels: recall, application, and analysis. These levels represent an organized way to identify the performance that practitioners will utilize on the job. An explanation of the three cognitive levels is provided below:

1) Recall (RE)
Purpose: Primarily measuring memory
Performance required: Identify terms, specific facts, methods, procedures, basic concepts, basic theories, principles, and
processes

2) Application (AP)
Purpose: To measure simple interpretation of limited data
Performance required: Apply concepts and principles to new situations; recognize relationships among data; apply laws and theories to practical situations; calculate solutions to mathematical problems; interpret charts and translate graphic data; classify items; interpret information

3)Analysis (AN)
Purpose: To measure the application of knowledge to solving a specific problem and the assembly of various elements into a meaningful whole
Performance Required: Select an appropriate solution for responsive action; revise policy, procedure, or plan; evaluate a solution, case scenario, report, or plan; compare solutions, plans, ideas, or aspects of a problem; evaluate information or a situation; perform multiple calculations to arrive at one answer

Resources
I recommend you to consult the Resources noted in the CHP Preparation Guide available through the AHIMA webpage or available upon request from AHIMA. The testing matrix tells you exactly the type of information that will be covered in the test. Some are general HIM Management type questions on solving problems and others are focused on privacy, security, and those specific scenarios for problem solving. The list of books, articles, practice brief listings, and websites are quite extensive and overwhelming at first sight. Again, I would recommend starting from ground zero on understanding the evolution of privacy in healthcare and go from there. I have to say that I found the AHIMA web site a great resource especially by searching the Body of Knowledge section by using the key word privacy and the list of information is enormous. It is a little overwhelming, but if you can put the documents, practice briefs in smaller groups and study a little at a time it does not seem so overwhelming. I also tried to apply my own personal test taking abilities by creating index cards on items that I thought would be on the test. I found this cut through a lot of the text which gave historical input and also some theory that I felt I was already familiar with…..I will have to defer that detail to you for more in depth review if you think it is helpful.

I was so pleased to have the practice briefs already summarized and very to the point with regards to privacy and the use of real life examples. I thought they were EXCELLENT and I was so glad that they were available for my use on the web…..Wow, AHIMA has done a great job in developing these for our use in our facilities!!!. Again, the test does measure your application to solve privacy related scenarios. I also used the Office for Civil Rights website as a study guide because they have tons of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that I thought were helpful and also required me to apply my interpretation into the answers they gave on their website.

Good luck and happy test taking!