The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) was founded in 1976. Prior to that time, a number of state organizations were founded with the majority of them emerging after 1976. In 1981, the NAHQ House of Delegates approved an affiliated state structure to provide state healthcare quality organizations the opportunity to formally link themselves to the national association. In 1982, Ohio became the first NAHQ affiliated state. Since that time, NAHQ has gained the support of 46 additional states for a total of 47 affiliated state healthcare quality associations (including Washington DC and Puerto Rico.) Four U.S. states remain unaffiliated.

All of the current affiliated state associations are linked to NAHQ by a formal Affiliation Agreement. This affiliation agreement requires that each state maintain a minimum of 25% or greater than 100 members with dual membership in both the state organization and NAHQ. This requirement is monitored through an Affiliated State Compliance Procedure administered each year.

While dual membership and membership growth is important, it is also essential that the state/national partnership be a strong one in which the state association support and promote national and in turn, NAHQ supports and promotes its affiliated state associations.

The material highlights benefits of affiliation, the responsibilities of NAHQ to the affiliated state associations and the affiliated state associations to NAHQ, as well as some association tips to assist the state leadership in running an effective affiliated state healthcare quality association.

Through the partnership between NAHQ and its affiliated state associations, we can work together in a mutually beneficial relationship to promote the professional in healthcare quality and the healthcare quality profession itself.

Benefits of Affiliation

• States are eligible to participate in a co-sponsorship, revenue sharing program of NAHQ’s review course for the CPHQ Exam
• States receive complete lists of NAHQ members located within their state on request for state membership recruitment
• States are able to select their own representatives to the NAHQ Leadership Council
• States can order a variety of items from NAHQ on the NAHQ Affiliated state Supply/Service Order Form
• For updates on NAHQ activities state leaders are invited to participate in conference calls with the NAHQ Immediate Past President
• State presidents and president-elects receive Direct from NAHQ, a newsletter written especially for state leaders
• States have access to a traveling membership booth to help promote membership and increase attention at their state meetings.
• States have the opportunity to promote their state meetings to the entire NAHQ membership through the quarterly NAHQ News & through the NAHQ Web page
• States can request complimentary NAHQ member ribbons to distinguish NAHQ members at their state meetings
• States can send leaders to NAHQ’s Leadership Orientation Meeting to network with colleagues and gain valuable association management tips
• States have the opportunity for recognition through the NAHQ Award for Association Excellence
• States receive recognition and an increased awareness by being associated with a national organization
• States can elect to use NAHQ’s dues invoicing service, a free benefit of affiliation

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality

As an affiliated State Chapter of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), New York Association for Healthcare Quality (NYAHQ) encourages all state members to become familiar with the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certification exam. This distinctive certification is administered by the Healthcare Quality Certification Board.