Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional

(CHEP)

The CHEP is a real-world healthcare emergency management certification. CHEP credential holders serve in or work with a variety of healthcare organizations including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, public health, coalitions, and first response agencies. Hospital CHEP holders come from a variety of functions such as emergency management, safety, security, occupational health, nursing, risk management, quality improvement, facility management, infection control, and environmental services. CHEP holders make a difference in helping their organizations maintain proactive, responsive, and flexible emergency management efforts to protect patients, visitors, families, staff, vendors, and practitioners during times of emergencies, disasters, and pandemics.  The CHEP serves as the premiere credential for those serving in vital areas of healthcare emergency management. Earning the CHEP certification signifies a professional commitment to excellence and demonstrates a personal dedication to serving and protecting in areas of emergency management and disaster preparedness.

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CHEP Exam Blueprint

Domains 100-150 items
1. Healthcare Emergency Management Concepts39%
2. Healthcare Disaster Preparedness & Response35%
3. Emergency & Safety Compliance Standards26%

Domain 1–Healthcare Emergency Management Principles (39%)

IBFCSM exams 100-150 multiple choice items. Exam results permit the assessment to determine a candidate’s minimum competency for certification. The blueprint reflects specifications published in the JTA Technical Report. Percentages reflect proportion of test items in each domain. Candidates use recall, recognition, comprehension, and application to answer items related to professional practice.

Domain 1 Topics

1.1 Identify appropriate accreditation standards

1.2 Given a scenario identify all-hazards preparedness requirements

1.3 Identify ASPR capabilities and responsibilities

1.4 Identify bioterrorism preparedness issues

1.5 Identify building egress requirements

1.6 Given a scenario identify CMS requirements

1.7 Given a scenario identify coalitions issues and responsibilities

1.8 Identify various emergency management command structures

1.9 Identify concerns, challenges, and resources for communications

1.10 Identify community emergencies and disaster challenges

1.11 Given a scenario identify community involvement issues and objectives

1.12 Identify topics addressed in disaster legislation

1.13 Identify requirements for drills and exercises

1.14 Identify areas addressed in ESF#6, #8, #9, #13

1.15 Given a scenario identify issues and requirements of evacuation planning

1.16 Identify exercise programs and agency responsibilities

1.17 Identify FEMA capabilities and responsibilities

1.18 Identify requirements and issues of health care sector preparedness

1.19 Given a scenario identify hospital response challenges and responsibilities

1.20 Identify elements and characteristics of the hospital HVA and EOP documents

1.21 Identify ICS principles and system methods

1.22 Identify the elements related to incident action planning

1.23 Identify incident command responsibilities

1.24 Identify the importance of information management

1.25 Identify key management functions and concepts

1.26 Given a scenario identify key elements of incident management

1.27 Identify multi-agency coordination efforts

1.28 Identify NIMS and healthcare responsibilities

1.29 Identify organizational fundamentals, cultures, and structures

1.30 Identify actions related to pandemics and other surge events

1.31 Identify planning priorities and emergency policy directives

1.32 Given a scenario identify key recovery related issues and challenges

1.33 Identify resource management concepts and principles

1.34 Identify important issues of emergency management stakeholders

1.35 Identify strategic planning priorities

Domain 2—Disaster Preparedness (35%)

Domain 2 Topics

2.1 Identify the principles related to activity reporting

2.2 Identify biohazards and chemical terrorism risks

2.3 Identify capabilities planning concepts

2.4 Given a scenario identify chemical exposures and threats

2.5 Given a scenario identify key community involvement issues

2.6 Identify comprehensive preparedness guidance documents and concepts

2.7 Identify risks and responses to cyber security threats

2.8 Identify disaster educational resources and medical capabilities

2.9 Given a scenario identify disaster notification and security requirements

2.10 Identify domestic preparedness goals, objectives, and functions

2.11 Given a scenario identify emergency communications and operations

2.12 Given a scenario identify exercises, simulations, and drills

2.13 Identify Federal operational plans and FEMA planning methods

2.14 Identify key fire safety preparedness objectives and methods

2.15 Identify disaster related hazard and risk assessment issues

2.16 Identify healthcare and other public health challenges

2.17 Identify incident action principles

2.18 Identify industrial hazards

2.19 Identify information collection and analysis methods

2.20 Identify integration of information requirements

2.21 Given a scenario identify lessons learned

2.22 Identify mitigation and national disaster response objectives

2.23 Identify threats from natural, weather, and manmade disasters

2.24 Identify key elements of NIMS operations

2.25 Identify nuclear and radiological hazards

2.26 Given a scenario identify issues related to prevention, protection, recovery, and response

2.27 Identify risk assessment, sector capabilities need to support function annexes

2.28 Identify technology emergencies and threats

Domain 3—Safety/Compliance (26%)

Domain 3 Topics

3.1 Identify accreditation requirements and standards

3.2 Identify voluntary standards that address emergency management

3.3 Identify emergency standards

3.4 Identify Federal agency safety and emergency related responsibilities

3.5 Identify Federal safety and disaster legislation

3.6 Given a scenario identity fire and safety standards

3.7 Given a scenario identify hazardous materials standards

  • 3.8 Given a scenario identify applicable OSHA standards that apply

    3.9 Given a scenario identified applicable NFPA codes and standards

    3.10 Identify CDC and NIOSH roles and responsibilities during emergencies

    3.11 Identify voluntary and consensus standards

    3.12 Identify requirements published in CFR Titles 10, 21, 29, 40, 42, 44, 49)

    3.13 Identify federal agency responsibilities (DHS, DHHS, DHS, DOT, EPA, FDA, FEMA, NRC)

    3.14 Identify voluntary standards entities (ANSI, ASTM, ASHRAE, ASME, CGA, FGI, NFPA, NIOSH)

CHEP Sample Questions

  1. Which concept relates to the number of individuals an incident supervisor can manage effectively?

a. Delegation of authority

b. Span of control*

c. Form follows function

d. Unity of command

 

  1. Which Command Staff position monitors conditions and develops measures for protecting the health of all assigned personnel?

a. The Public Information Officer

b. The Liaison Officer

c. The Operations Section Chief

d. The Safety Officer*

 

  1. What facility serves as the location where equipment is kept while waiting for tactical assignment?

a. Disaster compound

b. Helicopter support base

c. Incident command center

d. Staging area *

 

  1. An effective span of control during incidents may vary from three to seven, which ratio of supervisor to reporting elements is recommended?

a. One supervisor to four reporting elements

b. One supervisor to five reporting elements*

c. One supervisor to six reporting elements

d. One supervisor to seven reporting elements.

CHEP Study Resources

Studying the resources listed does not guarantee that a candidate will pass the examination. Candidates must personally decide how they can best prepare for the examination. IBFCSM does not require any candidate to purchase study materials, resources, or attend any review session to qualify for certification. Study references include the following resources:

  • Healthcare Hazard Control and Safety Management, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014, J.T. Tweedy, ISBN: 978-1-4822-0655-5.
  • CHEP Self Directed Study Guide, Available in downloadable PDF, and Print Format. Buy it here! 
  • Introduction to Hazard Control Management, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2014, J.T. Tweedy, IBSN: 978-1-4665-5158-9.
  • OSHA Hospital and Healthcare Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management References, Online at: osha.gov
  • NFPA 99-2012, Health Care Facilities Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA, 2011, MA, R.E. Bielen & J.K. Lathrop, ISBN: 978-161665141-1
  • NFPA 101-2012, Life Safety Code Handbook, NFPA, Quincy, MA 2011, ISBN: 978-006461807
  • CDC, DHHS, DHS, CMS, EPA, FDA, OSHA & NIOSH Websites
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