IHCM 420 - Principles and Practice of Healthcare Quality Improvement

Broad overview of the principles and tools of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare with an interprofessional approach. Includes the history of the quality improvement process in healthcare, quality databases and improvement process tools and programs. Students, working in interprofessional teams, apply the principles and tools of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare through completion of a simulated quality improvement project in a healthcare organization.
Prerequisite Admission to IHCM-BAS program.
Course-level Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the terms and the relationships among quality management, patient safety, risk management, peer review, patient experience and satisfaction, and performance management and improvement in the healthcare industry.
2. Summarize common quality improvement programs and tools including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, Six Sigma and Lean Production processes.
3. Assess healthcare practices and identify factors that contribute to medical errors and impact patient safety.
4. Identify and/or select a quality improvement opportunity from current practice or list of opportunities provided by faculty.
5. Develop specific project objectives including, but not limited to, the use of appropriate tools, identification of measurable aims and evaluation methods.
6. Present sustainable recommendations for process improvement and document a comprehensive report of findings and recommendations.