Postgraduate - UnitMPH2067 - Principles of health care quality improvement

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Historical, political & social factors impacting on quality measurement in health care. Relationship of industrial & health care quality monitoring. Epidemiological & statistical quality measurement principles. Strength & limitations of current monitoring techniques & different sources of health care quality data. Principles of clinical indicator programs, adverse event monitoring, satisfaction surveys & benchmarking. Relationship between evidence based medicine, clinical practice guidelines & quality improvement. Design, implementation & evaluation of quality improvement programs in clinical settings. The content builds on other management units in the program such as MPH2066 and Biostatistics and Epidemiology. It is a core unit of the Graduate Diploma and Master of Health Services Management.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit student should be able to:

1. Describe the factors that have led to a greater emphasis on quality measurement and improvement in health care.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the tools that are used in quality measurement and improvement, including:
• Clinical indicator programs
• Adverse event monitoring
• Satisfaction surveys
• Benchmarking
• Evidence based medicine
• Clinical guidelines
• Quality improvement programs
• Accreditation programs
• Risk management
3. Apply a knowledge of international quality improvement programs.
4. Contribute to the debate on quality improvement issues - such as public disclosure of quality measures.
5. Design and implement quality improvement programs in the clinical setting.

Assessment

Web-based tasks 50%
Written assignments 50%.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Sue Evans

Contact hours

15 contact hours over 2 block days

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/pgrad