Taking Safety and Quality Improvement Work to the Next Level (Patient Safety VII)

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/patient-safety-capstone

Introduction

**Course Review: Taking Safety and Quality Improvement Work to the Next Level (Patient Safety VII) on Coursera** In today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, the ability to ensure patient safety and quality improvement is paramount. One course that stands out for healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of these critical areas is “Taking Safety and Quality Improvement Work to the Next Level (Patient Safety VII)”, offered on Coursera as part of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Specialization. ### Course Overview This course acts as the capstone experience for the specialization, allowing participants to practically apply the skills and knowledge they've acquired throughout the preceding six courses. Enrolled students will engage in a case study involving Mercy Grace, a fictitious 500-bed urban hospital. The primary aim is to tackle a real-world patient safety issue by leveraging various analytical tools and strategies. What differentiates this course from others is its practical approach; instead of merely consuming information, students actively engage in assessing, investigating, and proposing solutions to an actual patient safety challenge. This hands-on methodology not only solidifies learning but also cultivates genuine problem-solving skills vital for healthcare settings. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Deepening Our Understanding of a Patient Safety Defect**: In the initial module, participants examine a patient safety incident that will guide their project. Students revisit the Learning from Defects Tool, creating a foundational draft for their capstone project while receiving essential feedback on their work. 2. **Problem-solving and Proposing Interventions**: The second module focuses on addressing patient falls, a prevalent issue in healthcare settings. It emphasizes project goal clarification, problem identification, and the essential 5-Whys analysis to understand root causes deeper. 3. **Project Implementation and Stakeholder Engagement**: This module is centered around implementing proposed interventions and engaging stakeholders, imperative for successful change management. Participants create drafts of a Premortem and a 4E table, receiving feedback that encourages refinement of their intervention strategies. 4. **Embedding and Expanding the Project**: The penultimate module addresses how to sustain changes and spread successful interventions across departments. It delves into concepts of change management and the processes required for embedding projects into broader healthcare systems. 5. **Conclusion**: The course culminates in a reflective process where participants review and refine documents from previous modules, ensuring they are ready for final submission. This extensive revision stage not only reinforces learning but also prepares students for real-world application. ### Recommendations This course is an exceptional choice for healthcare professionals who are serious about enhancing patient safety protocols and quality improvement initiatives. Here are a few reasons to enroll: - **Practical Application**: You’ll work through a real-life scenario, making the course highly relevant and applicable to your current or future workplace. - **Feedback-Oriented Learning**: With opportunities for feedback throughout the course on drafts of your work, you can hone your problem-solving skills and deliver robust quality improvement plans. - **Comprehensive Coverage**: Each module builds upon prior knowledge, ensuring a cohesive learning experience that bridges theoretical concepts with practical necessities. - **Collaboration Opportunities**: Engaging with fellow participants in discussions about patient safety challenges can offer unique insights and foster a collaborative learning environment. ### Conclusion “Taking Safety and Quality Improvement Work to the Next Level (Patient Safety VII)” on Coursera is not merely an academic exercise; it is a transformative learning experience for those in the healthcare field. By engaging in this course, professionals can develop a thorough understanding of patient safety issues, cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and ultimately contribute to a safer, higher-quality healthcare system. If you are looking to advance your career in healthcare improvement or patient safety, this course comes highly recommended.

Syllabus

Deepening Our Understanding of a Patient Safety Defect

In this module, you will be introduced to a patient safety issue that will provide the basis for all of the work you will complete in this capstone course. After reviewing the incident, you will review content from the second course in the specialization regarding the use of the Learning from Defects Tool, and you will complete a first draft of a similar Learning from Defects template. Please note that each of the assessments in the first four weeks of this course are optional - this gives you the opportunity to develop first drafts of all of the documents you will submit for your capstone project, and receive valuable feedback on the work you have completed. In the last module of this course, you will resubmit final versions of the documents you have completed throughout the course. This final package of documents will comprise your entire grade for this capstone project course.

In this module, you will build upon what you learned in the previous module by continuing your investigation of patient falls and clarifying your project goals. You will review content from previous courses in the specialization that discussed problem identification, scoping your project, building an A3, and specifying performance measures. You will then initiate a first draft of an A3, and complete a first draft of a 5-Whys Table.

In this module, you will begin the process of implementation and stakeholder engagement for your proposed interventions. You will begin by reviewing content from previous courses on Translating Evidence into Practice, the 4 Es model, and project implementation, as well as several readings on these topics. At the end of the module, you will have the opportunity to complete and receive feedback on a first draft of your Premortem and 4E table.

In this module, your focus will turn to embedding and expanding your project across additional units. You will review content on change management, sustainability, and the process of embedding and expanding your interventions. Finally, you will expand your work from Module 2 to create a first draft of a full, formal A3.

In this final module, you have the opportunity to review and reflect upon the documents you completed in the first four modules of the course. After revising and finalizing these documents, you should submit all of them as your final project submission for this course.