Introduction to Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Imperial College London via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/intro-quality-improvement-healthcare-1

Introduction

### Course Review: Introduction to Quality Improvement in Healthcare If you are looking to deepen your understanding of Quality Improvement (QI) principles in healthcare, then the **Introduction to Quality Improvement in Healthcare** course offered on Coursera is an excellent choice. This course provides an insightful exploration of QI concepts, theories, and applications on a global scale, featuring perspectives from patients, clinicians, and academics alike. #### Course Overview In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, maintaining and improving the quality of services is paramount. This course will help you understand the various dimensions of quality in healthcare and why QI is necessary. It includes real-life testimonials and reflections from stakeholders, providing a multi-faceted view on the importance of improvement in patient care. #### Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to: - Comprehend the significance of quality in healthcare. - Apply core QI methods effectively. - Critique existing QI initiatives, enhancing your analytical skills in practical settings. - Engage and empower stakeholders to develop a shared vision for healthcare improvement. #### Course Structure and Modules The course is structured around four comprehensive modules, each focusing on specific aspects of quality improvement: 1. **Healthcare Quality and Quality Improvement**: This initial module lays the foundation by defining what quality means in healthcare. It highlights the urgent need for improvement by discussing the implications of poor-quality healthcare through the lens of patient experiences. Real-world examples, like the Michigan Keystone project, provide evidence and context to these discussions. 2. **Engaging and Empowering Stakeholders with a Shared Vision**: This module delves into the importance of involving patients, communities, and various stakeholders in the improvement process. It emphasizes the significance of leadership in crafting a shared vision and uses the Action Effect method to help learners develop their improvement program theories. 3. **Healthcare Processes: Mapping and Implementing Changes**: Focusing on practical tools, this module introduces process mapping and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, both of which are essential in QI. You will learn from experts who share their experiences implementing these methods, including insights gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. 4. **Long-Term Success and the Importance of Context**: The final module addresses the sustainability of QI initiatives. Through analyzing case studies set in diverse contexts — from rural Guatemala to urban USA — learners will understand how environment and context impact QI implementation and outcomes. The module also highlights common challenges that teams face, enriching your practical understanding of the field. #### Recommendation I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in healthcare improvement, whether you are a healthcare professional, a student planning to enter the field, or simply someone passionate about healthcare quality. The interactive elements, expert testimonials, and the global perspective enhance the learning experience, making the course both informative and engaging. What sets this course apart is its emphasis on real-world applications and challenges faced by QI teams. The collaborative approach of bringing in diverse voices — patients, clinicians, and academics — presents a rich learning environment where you can gain varied insights into quality improvement. Overall, **Introduction to Quality Improvement in Healthcare** on Coursera is not just a course; it's a stepping stone toward becoming an effective advocate for quality improvement in healthcare systems.

Syllabus

Healthcare Quality and Quality Improvement

In this module you will learn what is meant by quality in healthcare and why quality improvement is needed, and gain a high level appreciation for some important approaches to quality improvement. You will hear from a patient perspective about the implications of poor quality healthcare, and see some evidence of the global scale of the problem. You will learn about a well-studied example of a quality improvement initiative, the Michigan Keystone project. In addition, you will participate in activities to enable you to reflect on your own knowledge and experience of quality, and quality improvement, in health and care systems.

Engaging and Empowering Stakeholders with a Shared Vision

In this second module of the course you will be introduced to stakeholder engagement and empowerment including the importance of community, patient and public involvement. You will engage with lived experiences of service users and communities working together with clinicians and academics to improve health and healthcare. You will learn about the importance of good leadership and building a shared vision, and how to practically develop a programme theory for improvement through the Action Effect method.

Healthcare Processes: Mapping and Implementing Changes

This third module provides an introduction to process mapping and the Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle as tools to support QI in practice. These methods are core in many approaches to improvement, used to understand and then improve processes of care. You will hear from experts in the field about their use of these methods, and their experiences leading quality improvement in practice, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will learn about challenges they encountered and strategies they used to overcome them.

Long Term Success and the Importance of Context

In this fourth module you will consider issues relating to the long term success of improvement initiatives – what influences whether improvement is sustained once achieved? You will apply an evidence-based tool promoting long term success to example QI initiatives. The context in which an improvement initiative takes place has a significant impact on both implementation and outcomes. Considering two contrasting case studies, one set in rural Guatemala and one in the USA, you will learn how to identify different elements of context and their interaction. In the later part of the module you will learn about common challenges and obstacles that QI teams face when designing and implementing their QI projects, including the role of fidelity in the application of quality improvement methods.