Course Description

This course deals with the study of quality standards and methodologies in the health information management/informatics environment. Topics include licensing, accreditation, compilation and presentation of data in statistical formats, quality management and performance improvement functions, utilization management, risk management, and medical staff data quality issues, and approaches to assessing patient safety issues and implementation of quality management and reporting through electronic systems. The course focuses on analytical writing and problem solving techniques.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

Modes of Instruction:
Lecture presented as MS PowerPoint Presentations
Assignments/Projects
Textbook activities
Posted discussions via Canvas learning system
Videos

Prerequisites

This course is open to students who have completed all 3000 level courses.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

Expose students to the history of traditional quality improvement programs, their techniques and their limitations.
Identify the motivational factors behind the quality movement and gain an understanding of what quality means.
Learn about the differences in the quality improvement methodologies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Critically assess the quality improvement movement--its strengths and weaknesses and future direction.
Identify potential risk management issues.
Explain the elements of a quality assessment (QA) program.
Discuss the government regulations and accreditation standards related to clinical quality management.
Formulate a department wide performance improvement program that will improve both performance, quality and create staff satisfaction in the workplace.
Design and implement systems to perform data retrieval for performance improvement activities throughout the facility.