Leading Healthcare Quality and Safety

About this course: Ensuring patient safety and healthcare quality is critical and should be a key focus of everyone in healthcare practice. This course provides healthcare practitioners and others with an introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to lead patient safety and quality improvement initiatives at the micro and macro levels. Participants will explore the foundations of health care quality and the science underlying patient safety and quality improvement, design and select effective health care measures, analyze patient safety problems and processes using tools such as human factors analysis, apply systematic approaches including the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model to address quality improvement challenges, and learn strategies to lead a culture of change. The course takes a world view of patient safety and quality, linking participants to research and resources from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Joint Commission and other international organizations. Course highlights include personal stories, lessons learned from other industries and interviews with the President of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and other leaders in quality movement. This continuing nursing education activity has been approved by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Nursing CE Contact Hours: 10.5. Healthcare professionals interested in earning the Nursing CE contact hours must: 1) Enroll in the course and purchase the $49 Coursera Certificate option 2) Register for the Nursing CE contact hours through the George Washington University School of Nursing via the link below. There is an additional non-refundable fee of $60. 3) Successfully complete the course. This requires completion of all modules, reading of all required materials, and a passing score of 80% or higher on all quizzes. Register for Nursing CE: go.gwu.edu/qualitysafety About The George Washington University School of Nursing Ranked among the top nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report, the George Washington University School of Nursing educates and inspires nurses to provide high-quality, compassionate person-centered health care. The school develops leaders actively engaged in health promotion, patient advocacy and healthcare innovation, and prepares exceptional nurse educators who pursue quality and advance the profession. The School of Nursing is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities locally, nationally and globally. The school values lifelong learning and its students advance nursing practice, leadership and education as they make a difference in the world.

Created by:  The George Washington University

• Taught by:  Jean Johnson

  Professor, GW School of Nursing and Executive Coach

• Taught by:  Gregory Pawlson

  Clinical Professor of Medicine and Adjunct Professor, GW School of Nursing and Executive Coach

Level Beginner Commitment 5 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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The George Washington University In the heart of our nation’s capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in nursing, medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across the country and around the world.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Establishing a Framework for Quality & Safety



Welcome to Module 1! During this module, you'll learn about the current state of healthcare quality and safety in the US and globally, and the essential characteristics and expected outcomes of safe, high-quality healthcare. We'll also discuss the core elements of quality improvement, and the data needed to assess the safety and quality of care. Finally, we'll examine lessons learned from other industries & disciplines that can be applied to healthcare improvement efforts. We're looking forward to getting started!


5 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Please tell us more about you as a learner....
2. Video: Welcome to the Course!
3. Video: An Interview with Peggy O’Kane, Founding & Current President of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
4. Video: The Unsettling Facts
5. Video: Models for Change
6. Video: Summary
7. Reading: Module 1 Readings & Resources
8. Discussion Prompt: Module 1 Instructor Forum
9. Discussion Prompt: Module Discussion 1: Meet and Greet
10. Discussion Prompt: Module 1 Discussion 2: Share Experiences with Quality & Safety
11. Practice Quiz: Module 1 Practice Quiz

WEEK 2


Safety as a First Principle of Quality



Welcome to Module 2! This week, we examine the criticality of patient safety to healthcare and the sciences underlying patient safety. You'll learn a model for systems engineering and a process for anticipating and addressing medical errors. You'll also learn about the importance of a just culture approach to medical error prevention.


6 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: The Lewis Blackman Story
3. Video: The Science of Patient Safety
4. Video: Systems Re-Engineering
5. Video: Human Factors
6. Video: Summary
7. Reading: Module 2 Readings & Resources
8. Discussion Prompt: Module 2 Instructor Forum
9. Discussion Prompt: Module 2 Discussion: The Lewis Blackman Story

Graded: Module 2 Quiz

WEEK 3


Measures & Measurement



Welcome to Module 3! This week we delve into measures and measurement. You'll learn to apply the basic Donebedian framework for measuring quality in healthcare in terms of structure, process and outcomes. We'll discuss the key attributes of useful (good) healthcare measures and the core concepts of validity and reliability. You'll also learn the most critical elements to consider in choosing and applying a measure or measures to measurement in a given health care setting or situation, and the key characteristics of a measurement process that must be present to provide information that is a valid and useful reflection of quality of care.


6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: A Framework for Measures
3. Video: What Makes a Good Measure?
4. Video: Measurement: Why & What
5. Video: Use & Reporting of Measures
6. Video: Summary
7. Reading: Module 3 Readings & Resources
8. Reading: Desirable Measures Checklist
9. Discussion Prompt: Module 3 Instructor Forum
10. Discussion Prompt: Module 3 Discussion: Selecting Measures

Graded: Module 3 Quiz

WEEK 4


Quality and Safety Improvement Science



Welcome to Module 4! This week you'll learn how to identify quality improvement opportunities and apply the PDSA cycle to address them. We'll also discuss the importance and benefits of team-based approaches to quality improvement, and the value of Health Information Technologies (HIT) and other innovations in improving health care quality.


6 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Identifying the Problem & Benchmarking
3. Video: Quality Improvement Process
4. Video: QI as a Team Sport
5. Video: Quality Innovations: An Interview with Jesse Hines
6. Video: Summary
7. Reading: Module 4 Readings and Resources
8. Discussion Prompt: Module 4 Instructor Forum
9. Discussion Prompt: Module 4 Discussion: Applying the PDSA Process
10. Peer Review: Quality Improvement Project Plan & Peer Review

Graded: Module 4 Quiz

WEEK 5


Leadership for Quality & Safety



Welcome to Module 5! This week we explore the importance of leadership in supporting and advancing quality and safety at all levels of the healthcare organization. We'll discuss strategies that contribute to a quality culture in health care, and examine different models of organizational change that you can apply as you lead your own quality and safety initiatives.


6 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Culture of Improvement and Safety: Models for Creating Effective Organizations
3. Video: Leadership and Followership in a Culture of Quality
4. Video: Knowing Who You Are as a Leader
5. Video: Overcoming Resistance to Change
6. Video: Summary
7. Reading: Module 5 Readings & Resources
8. Discussion Prompt: Module 5 Instructor Forum
9. Discussion Prompt: Module 5 Discussion: Leading Quality Improvement

Graded: Module 5 Quiz