IP Permissions Policy

Intellectual Property Permissions Policy

NAHQ^® receives frequent requests from individuals and organizations to utilize NAHQ’s intellectual property, including our logos, marks, and copyrighted works. This Intellectual Property Permissions Policy (Policy) lists intended uses, solutions, restrictions, and instructions relating to NAHQ’s intellectual property, including how to properly request permission to utilize NAHQ’s intellectual property.

Except where NAHQ and an individual or organization enter into a separate executed agreement governing the use of NAHQ’s intellectual property, the terms of this Policy govern the use of NAHQ’s intellectual property. Individuals and organizations that receive NAHQ’s consent to use NAHQ’s intellectual property agree to be bound by and comply with these terms.

NAHQ encourages organizations to use the NAHQ website as a resource. You may provide a link to the NAHQ website, NAHQ.org.

NAHQ Trademarks and Copyrights

The following lists include certain of NAHQ’s trademarks and copyrights. NAHQ’s trademarks and copyrights may only be used with NAHQ’s written permission, as explained below. All unauthorized use of NAHQ’s intellectual property is prohibited.

Any license granted to a NAHQ trademark or copyright is non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-sublicensable, terminable and limited. In addition to any other limitations imposed by NAHQ, NAHQ’s trademarks and copyrights may not be used:

In any communication or other activity which is illegal, fraudulent, misleading, tortious, discriminatory, or unethical, or which violates legal rights of any person;
As part of a name, logo, symbol, trademark, domain name, or social media identifier/handle;
In a manner to cause confusion or mistake as to an affiliation, connection, association, or endorsement from or with NAHQ; and
In a manner that is inconsistent with NAHQ’s bylaws, policies, and procedures, or the terms of any agreement under which NAHQ licenses the trademark or copyright.

Any use of a NAHQ trademark or copyright inures to the benefit of NAHQ. Any individual or organization granted permission to use a NAHQ trademark or copyright shall comply with any instructions regarding their use that NAHQ may provide from time to time.

NAHQ’s trademarks may only be used to reference NAHQ, or NAHQ’s programs, course offerings, and other services. NAHQ’s trademarks may not be applied to any programs, goods, or services that NAHQ did not create or sponsor. NAHQ reserves the right to terminate any license to its trademarks or copyrights at any time in its discretion. In addition, NAHQ reserves the right to pursue legal recourse against anyone who uses NAHQ’s trademarks or copyrights without authorization, or in a manner inconsistent with any limited license granted by NAHQ.

Trademarks

In addition to trademarks held by NAHQ as a matter of common law and its registrations maintained abroad, NAHQ’s trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office include the following:

National Association for Healthcare Quality^® and NAHQ^®
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality^® and CPHQ^®
Journal for Healthcare Quality^®
Workforce Accelerator^®

Copyright

NAHQ’s written materials, images, videos, and other content are protected by copyright and other intellectual property law.

NAHQ’s Workforce Report and Healthcare Quality Competency Framework are among NAHQ’s copyrighted works. For additional listings of NAHQ’s copyrighted works, see the U.S. Copyright Office’s Public Catalog.

Use of NAHQ Logos and Marks

Use of National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ®)

National Association for Healthcare Quality^® and NAHQ^®are registered trademarks of NAHQ. The registered trademark symbol should be applied directly after “National Association for Healthcare Quality” and “NAHQ” as shown above. The organization need only apply the registered trademark symbol to the first reference of the term “National Association for Healthcare Quality” and “NAHQ” within the written material.

When describing NAHQ^®, the following is NAHQ approved language:

The National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ) is at the forefront of elevating the profession and advancing the discipline of quality & safety across the continuum of care. We set the industry standard through our expert-created, twice-validated Healthcare Quality Competency Framework™ and help individuals and organizations achieve it through educational programming, industry leading data-driven intelligence, and the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ). NAHQ also serves as a welcoming membership community and a trusted partner to 150+ organizations helping build quality infrastructures, workforce planning and professional development programs and quality cultures. Learn more at NAHQ.org.

NAHQ Logo Permissions

The use and reproduction of NAHQ’s logos, including the logos incorporating its name, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of NAHQ. To request permission to use the NAHQ logos, please complete this form.

Examples of permissible use:

I want to promote NAHQ’s Products or Events on my website as educational resources for my employees or members.

Examples of use that are not permissible:

I want to use the NAHQ logo to imply a relationship to my organization’s products or services.

Use of Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ®)

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality^® and CPHQ^® are registered trademarks of NAHQ. The registered trademark symbol should be applied directly after “Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality” and “CPHQ” as shown above. The organization need only apply the registered trademark symbol to the first reference of the term “Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality” and “CPHQ” within the written material.

When describing CPHQ^®, the following is NAHQ approved language:

NAHQ’s Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality^® (CPHQ^®) is the only accredited certification in healthcare quality. It is fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the accrediting arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. Nearly 13,000 people hold this prestigious credential today. Demonstrate your readiness and commitment to improving health outcomes by earning your CPHQ.  Learn more about the CPHQ

CPHQ^® Seal Logo Permissions

The use and reproduction of the CPHQ^® Seal logo is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of NAHQ^®. To request permission to use the CPHQ Seal Logo, please complete this form.

Examples of permissible use:

I want to promote the CPHQ on my website as an educational resource for my employees or members.

Examples of use that are not permissible:

I want to use the CPHQ Seal logo to promote my organization’s products or services to prepare for the CPHQ Exam.

Use of CPHQ^® Digital Badge

CPHQs are encouraged to display their digital badge to showcase their certification. Learn more about use standards. The CPHQ Digital badge may only be used by individuals. Organizations may not use the digital badge.

CPHQ^® CE Approval for your program

NAHQ approves external programs to offer CPHQ CE. Programs must be aligned with the current CPHQ content outline. Learn more about offering CPHQ Continuing Education (CE) credit for your organization’s program.

Use of the Journal for Healthcare Quality®

Journal for Healthcare Quality^® is a registered trademark of NAHQ. The registered trademark symbol should be applied directly after “Journal for Healthcare Quality” as shown above. The organization need only apply the registered trademark symbol to the first reference of the term “Journal for Healthcare Quality” within the written material.

When describing the Journal for Healthcare Quality^®, the following is NAHQ approved language:

The Journal for Healthcare Quality^® (JHQ), is the peer-reviewed journal of the National Association for Healthcare Quality^® (NAHQ^®). JHQ promotes the art and science of healthcare quality practice to improve health outcomes and advance the practice in changing environments across the continuum of healthcare. JHQ serves as the premier resource for scientific solutions in the pursuit of healthcare quality.

Use of the copyrighted NAHQ® Healthcare Quality Competency Framework^TM

Learn more about how you can utilize the NAHQ Healthcare Quality Competency Framework.

When describing the copyrighted NAHQ^® Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, the following is NAHQ approved language:

Standardization is the key to improving quality. The industry-standard Healthcare Quality Competency Framework*, developed by NAHQ^®, was created by a diverse group of healthcare quality leaders and twice validated in the market—by those doing the work and by those leading the work. These experts categorized healthcare quality work into eight domains, which are comprised of 29 competency statements and 486 skill statements, stratified by Foundational, Proficient and Advanced levels. Learn more about the Framework.

Use of Workforce Accelerator®

Workforce Accelerator^® is a registered trademark of NAHQ. The registered trademark symbol should be applied directly after “Workforce Accelerator” as shown above. The organization need only apply the registered trademark symbol to the first reference of the term “Workforce Accelerator” within the written material.

When describing the Workforce Accelerator^®, the following is NAHQ approved language:

Workforce Accelerator^®is a scalable three-phase solution for healthcare organizations to partner with NAHQ^® to accelerate their quality journey – assessing, upskilling and leveraging their quality workforce. NAHQ^® works with organizations to understand their most pressing quality and safety goals and priorities, assess the work their team is doing relative to the competency framework, prioritize the upskilling needs based on both the largest gaps and their quality priorities, design an upskilling roadmap and provide a NAHQ Navigator to work arm in arm with them to understand the tools NAHQ^® has developed and to execute their upskilling efforts. Learn more about the Workforce Accelerator.

Use of NAHQ’s Copyrighted Works

Except with NAHQ’s express written permission, the reproduction, distribution, modification, creation of derivative works of, public display, public performance, republication, and transmission of NAHQ’s materials protected by copyright, including written materials, images, videos, and other content, is strictly prohibited.

Use Cases

I want to republish an article from the Journal for Healthcare Quality®.

Learn more about how permission can be obtained through the Journal for Healthcare Quality website.

I want to incorporate NAHQ training materials in my organization’s professional development program or my academic institution’s curriculum.

NAHQ works with employers and academic institutions to incorporate NAHQ’s education products into your professional development plans or academic curriculum through Team Training for employers and through our Higher Education Programs. No organization is permitted to use NAHQ content without written permission.

I want to share NAHQ’s copyrighted Workforce Report or copyrighted Healthcare Quality Competency Framework on my organization’s website to provide resources to our constituents.
NAHQ regularly makes updates to our publications to maintain their relevance and accuracy. You may link directly to NAHQ’s publications on the NAHQ website, but no one is allowed to republish or post directly on their website any NAHQ publications.

When describing the Workforce Report, the following is NAHQ approved language:

The National Association for Healthcare Quality^® (NAHQ^®) has published the first ever Workforce Report for the Healthcare Quality profession. Based on the industry defining Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, the report “Key Workforce Competencies for Quality Driven Healthcare”, calls for the need for standardized training in Healthcare Quality to create a coordinated, competent workforce that results in better patient and financial outcomes to support the goals of healthcare value. You can download the Workforce Report through NAHQ’s website.

Press Releases and Approved Quotes

If your organization would like to include information about NAHQ products and services or you would like to obtain a quote from NAHQ to include in a press release, please complete this form. All press releases should be submitted to NAHQ for review and approval prior to publication.

Requirements for including NAHQ information and/or quotes in your release

The press release must include an approved description of NAHQ or the referenced product or service. If NAHQ does a joint press release with another organization, the following Boiler Plate must be used:

Request use of NAHQ logo, mark or work product

Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, those individuals and organizations granted permission to NAHQ’s intellectual property under this Policy shall defend and indemnify NAHQ, and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, representatives, contractors, successors, and assigns (collectively, “NAHQ Persons”) against all losses, liabilities, claims, and actions, including, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses arising out of or relating to: (i) the use of NAHQ’s intellectual property; (ii) any third-party’s resulting use of NAHQ’s intellectual property as a result of a consent granted under this Policy; and (iii) any breach of this Policy.

Disclaimer of Warranties

NAHQ’s intellectual property IS PROVIDED “AS-IS,” and “WITH ALL FAULTS.” YOUR USE OF THE intellectual property IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. NAHQ MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE intellectual property AND DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT thereto WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ALL WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE.

Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER NAHQ NOR ANY NAHQ PERSONS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO this Policy, or your use of NAHQ’s Intellectual property. IN ADDITION, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO RECOVER CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL, ENHANCED, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE FROM NAHQ OR THE OTHER NAHQ PERSONS. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THESE LIMITS ON LIABILITY ARE REASONABLE. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

All matters arising out of or relating to this Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law provision or rule. Any action arising out of or relating to this Policy, including any permissions to use NAHQ’s intellectual property, shall be instituted exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, or the Illinois state courts located in Cook County, Illinois. Individuals and organizations that receive NAHQ’s consent to use NAHQ’s intellectual property under the Policy agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts. If NAHQ brings an action or proceeding to enforce this Policy, NAHQ is entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs related to such an action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief or damages to which NAHQ may be entitled.