Welcome to the California Department of Public Health Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ), the Center with the responsibility for regulatory oversight of health facilities, health professionals, and clinical and public health laboratories to secure safe, effective, and quality health care for all Californians. Through the Center’s Licensing and Certification (L&C) program and Laboratory Field Services (LFS) Program the Center for Health Care Quality plays a critical role in the protection of patient safety. CHCQ does this by evaluating applicant health facilities, agencies, clinical laboratories, and professionals for compliance with state laws and regulations in order to license, certify, or register them. CHCQ also investigates complaints, certifies health facilities’ and agencies’ compliance with federal laws and regulations, and oversees the education, training, and criminal record clearance of nursing home administrators, certified nurse assistants, home health aides, and hemodialysis technicians, clinical laboratory scientists, and phlebotomists.

Kathleen J. Billingsley, R.N.
Deputy Director
Center for Health Care Quality