Executive Certificate in Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership

4 credits | Fall & Spring Semester

This course introduces learners to relevant theory, content, tools, and methods in the field of patient safety and health care quality. During the six weeks learners will begin exploring techniques for effective improvement science, defining patient safety and quality, and selecting/developing meaningful metrics reflecting patient safety and clinical quality for an organization. The course is a high-level overview of the following topics: patient engagement, psychological safety, human factors, high-reliability organizations and the evolving healthcare environment. 

4 credits | Fall & Spring Semester

 Learners are introduced to patient safety issues and high-risk contexts for error occurrence along with safety tools. This course is designed with a longitudinal case study applying patient safety and implementation science skills. Students learn the importance of reporting, just culture, event reviews, health information technology, transparency, and communicating after harm. Learners develop proficiency with patient safety risk assessment, principles of safe system design, apology, and related patient safety priorities.

4 credits | Spring & Summer Semester

Learners gain working knowledge of basic quality improvement tools, data collection, analytical methods, project and change management techniques that are common in quality improvement. Through empirical questions, students utilize statistical tools for data analyses, interpretation, and presentation to critically evaluate quality improvement policies, reports, and meaningful metrics and measures. During the course, relevant discussions focus on regulatory requirements, accreditation, payment methodologies and how they impact quality improvement. 

NAHQ’s industry-standard curriculum is woven into this course. After completion, students have the skills and knowledge to sit for NAHQ’s Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) certification. 

4 credits | Fall & Spring Semester

This course explores theory, culture, and change as it relates to healthcare organizational leadership. By examining various leadership styles, influence techniques, teamwork, and ethics, learners develop their individual leadership identities. Based upon best practices, learners develop the values of effective leadership and design a leadership model of their own. Exercises and discussions promote critical thinking about challenges in healthcare and the impact of leadership on creating a safety culture.