Syllabus

Schedule

Course learning modules are divided into weeks. Each week starts on Wednesday at 12:00 am Eastern Time (ET) and closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday. All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the due date.

Course Schedule at a Glance

Learning Modules	Topics	Assignments and Due Dates
Week 1 8/28 – 9/4	Fundamentals of Quality	Introductory Discussion Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 9/1, responses by Wednesday 9/4 Research Activity – Wednesday 9/4
Week 2 9/4 – 9/11	Measuring and Evaluating Performance	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 9/8, responses by Wednesday 9/11 Case Study – Measuring Performance – Wednesday9/11
Week 3 9/11 – 9/18	Continuous Improvement	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 9/15, responses by Wednesday 9/18 Value Stream Map Activity – Wednesday 9/18
Week 4 9/18 – 9/25	Improving Patient Safety	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 9/22, responses by Wednesday 9/25 Article Critique – Wednesday 9/25
Week 5 9/25 – 10/2	Utilization Management and Applying Statistical Methods	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 9/29, responses by Wednesday 10/2 Statistical Process Control Activity – Wednesday 10/2
Week 6 10/2 – 10/9	Managing Quality in Population Health and Value-Based Care	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 10/6 Research Paper – Wednesday 10/9
Week 7 10/9 – 10/16	Analytics for Quality/Performance Improvement	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 10/13 responses by Wednesday 10/16 Analytics Use Case – Wednesday 10/16
Week 8 10/16 – 10/20	Putting Healthcare Quality and Safety into Practice	Discussion – Initial post by Friday 10/18 responses by Sunday 10/20 Reflection – Sunday 10/20

Weekly Course Schedule

Week 1 – Fundamentals of Quality

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the relationship between cost and quality and how external forces influence quality management activities in healthcare organizations
• Describe the three primary quality management activities: measurement, assessment, and improvement
• Identify the purpose and content of a quality management plan and groups responsible for quality in healthcare organizations
• Analyze how healthcare analytics can improve decision making regarding healthcare improvement

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapters 1, 2 and 12
• Strome (2013) Chapters 1 and 2

Articles

• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine webpage: (http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Global/News%20Announcements/Crossing-the-Quality-Chasm-The-IOM-Health-Care-Quality-Initiative.aspx)
• Schulingkamp, R. C., & Latham, J. R. (2015). Healthcare performance excellence: A comparison of Baldrige Award recipients and competitors. Quality Management Journal, 22(3), 6-22, 4.
• Melo, S. (2016). The impact of accreditation on healthcare quality improvement: A qualitative case study. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 30(8),1242-1258.

Reference

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2017). National Quality Strategy Alignment Toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/workingforquality/nqs-tools/alignment-toolkit.html
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality webpage: Team STEPPS (https://www.ahrq.gov/teamstepps/index.html)

Video

• AHRQ Patient Safety. (2017, July 26). Introduction to the fundamentals of TeamSTEPPS® Concepts and Tools [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fxlRtpzsUug

Assignments:

Introductory Discussion: Please introduce yourselves to your instructor and classmates. Briefly share your academic and professional backgrounds. What are you most interested in learning about during this course? What questions do you hope to have answered? (ungraded)

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) How would applying the core values and concepts of the Baldridge Performance Excellence Framework (Health Care) improve healthcare quality? What role does analytics play? (See critical concept 2.1 in Spath text). Or 2)Think about your most recent healthcare encounter. Without disclosing the nature of the encounter, what aspects of care or service were you pleased with? What could have been done better, and how could it have been improved? How would you assess the quality of the visit? How much did you pay for the visit? Do you know the total cost?

Research Activity: Many organizations support healthcare quality in the United States. In this activity, investigate one quality-focused organization such as The Joint Commission, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Leapfrog Group, National Committee for Quality Assurance, National Quality Forum, or Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, etc. Analyze the following components as they might apply to healthcare improvement and their potential application to a healthcare system:

• History of the organization
• Purpose
• Data repositories and analytics
• Tools
• Key Initiatives
• Influence and impact on quality management activities

Consider the three primary quality management activities of measurement, assessment, and improvement as well as who might be responsible for this work in a healthcare organization.

Assignment length: 3-4 pages double-spaced, not including cover page and reference page. Use conventional grammar, punctuation, mechanics and APA formatting. Refer to the Research Activity Rubric for submission standards.

Week 2 – Measuring and Evaluating Performance

Learning Outcomes:

• Use structure, process, and outcome measures to evaluate quality
• Apply methods of interpreting healthcare performance measurement data
• Explain how comparative performance data are used for assessment purposes.
• Describe steps for preparing and working with data and how technology supports QI/PI processes
• Outline how quality and performance measures are developed and used

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapters 3 and 4
• Strome (2013) Chapters 6 and 7

Articles

• Casalino, L. P., Gans, D., Weber, R., Cea, M. Tuchovsky, M. Bishop, T. F., . . . Evenson, T. B. (2016). US physician practices spend more than $15.4 billion annually to report quality measures. Health Affairs, 35(3). https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1258
• Dy, S. M., Kiley, K. B., Ast, K., Lupu, D., Norton, S. A., McMillan, S. C., . . . Casarett, D. J. (2015). Measuring what matters: Top-ranked quality indicators for hospice and palliative care from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 49(4), 773-781.
• Ancker, J. S., Kern, L. M., Edwards, A., Nosal, S., Stein, D. M., Hauser, D., & Kaushal, R. (2015). Associations between healthcare quality and use of electronic health record functions in ambulatory care. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 22(4), 864-871.
• Mohammed, K., Nolan, M. B., Rajjo, T., Shah, N. D., Prokop, L. J., Varkey, P., . . . Murad, M. H. (2014). Creating a patient-centered health care delivery system. A systematic review of health care quality from the patient perspective. American Journal of Medical Quality, 31(1), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1062860614545124

Videos

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2013, December 3). How measuring performance data can improve quality [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/eWe1YGHC_Y8

• Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres. (2017, October 4). Using routinely collected health data for research and quality improvement [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/xh7ChXW0hGY

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1)Explore the CMS Hospital Compare website (www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html?). Choose 3 hospitals within 100 miles of your location. Review the data for each of the following broad measurement categories: Process of care measures, Outcome of care measures, and Patients’ hospital experiences. Which hospital rates highest in each of the above categories? As a consumer, would you consider using the data on CMS Hospital Compare website to select a hospital? Why or why not? Do you know of family, friends, or coworkers who have used this website? If so, what was their experience like? If not, what would you tell them to persuade them to use it? Or, 2) In your opinion, what is the greatest barrier to ensuring the quality of data used for performance measurement? Provide at least two examples. How would you address the barriers you identified? How can technology support data quality in these areas?

Case Study-Measuring Performance: For any healthcare activity, four performance factors can be measured: structure, process, outcome, and patient experience. Identify one measure from each of these categories that could be used to evaluate the following ambulatory surgery center admission process:

Upon arrival, the patient reports to the center’s registration or admitting area. The patient completes paperwork, provides an identification card, and supplies insurance information if insured. Money for the patient’s insurance copay or self-pay deposit is collected at this time. Often, patients register on the surgery center’s website before the date of admission to facilitate the registration process. An identification bracelet, including the patient’s name and doctor’s name, is placed around the patient’s wrist. Before any procedure is performed the patient is asked to sign a consent form. If the patient is not feeling well, a family member or caregiver can help the patient complete the admission process.

Describe, in fundamental terms, each measure you selected to evaluate the surgery center’s admission process. What are the numerator and denominator? If the measure does not require a numerator and denominator, explain why. Suppose the manager of the surgery center’s registration area wants to gather data to report performance results for the measures you have chosen. What data sources could be used to gather information for the measures? Why would these data sources be best for gathering reliable data? How does technology support these processes?

Provide your response in a WORD document that is 3-4 pages (not including cover and reference pages), double-spaced. Use APA style format and citations, conventional grammar, punctuation, and writing mechanics. Your case study response should include an introduction that summarizes the case study. Responses to each of the questions posed in the prompt. When responding to these questions, address the scenario presented in the case. Offer your own opinion. Explain what you think about the case study. (Support your responses with references from the class readings.) Include a brief conclusion to the case study. Refer to the Case Study Rubric for submission standards.

Week 3 – Continuous Improvement

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply quality improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and PDCA
• Identify commonly used quantitative and qualitative improvement tools
• Describe best practices for managing improvement teams
• Outline the benefits of data governance

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapters 5, 6 and 7
• Strome (2013) Chapters 4 and 5

Articles

• Sendelbach, S., Wahl, S., Anthony, A., & Shotts, P. (2015). Stop the noise: A quality improvement project to decrease electrocardiographic nuisance alarms. Critical Care Nurse, 35(4), 15-22.
• Marshall, D. A., Christiansen, T., Smith, C., Squire Howden, J., Werle, J., Faris, P., & Frank, C. (2015). Continuous quality improvement program for hip and knee replacement. American Journal of Medical Quality, 30(5), 425-431. doi: 10.1177/1062860614540512
• Ker, C. W., Ker, J., Wang, Y., Hajli, M. N., & Song, J. (2014). Deploying lean in healthcare: Evaluating information technology effectiveness in U.S. hospital pharmacies. International Journal of Information Management, 34(4), 556-560. doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2014.03.003
• Blackmore, C. C., & Kaplan, G. S. (2017). Lean and the perfect patient experience. BMJ Quality & Safety, 26(2), 85-86. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2016-005273
• Robertson, E., Morgan, L., New, S., Pickering, S., Hadi, M., Collins, G., . . . McCulloch, P. (2015). Quality improvement in surgery combining lean improvement methods with teamwork training: A controlled before-after study. PloS One, 10(9), e0138490. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138490
• El-Eid, G. R., Kaddoum, R., Tamim, H., & Hitti, E. A. (2015). Improving hospital discharge time: A successful implementation of six sigma methodology. Medicine, 94(12), e633. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000633
• Rai, A. T., Smith, M. S., Boo, S., Tarabishy, A. R., Hobbs, G. R., & Carpenter, J. S. (2016). The pit-crew model for improving door-to-needle times in endovascular stroke therapy: A six-sigma project. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 8(5), 447-452. doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2015-012219
• Lee, E., Grooms, R., Mamidala, S., & Nagy, P. (2014). Six easy steps on how to create a lean sigma value stream map for a multidisciplinary clinical operation. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 11(12), 1144-1149. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2014.08.031
• Ingole, H. V., Wankhade, Y. P., & Sethia, C. S. (2015). Value stream mapping (VSM): A case study in orthopedic hospital. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2(7), 755-758.

Videos

• IHI: Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2016, October 7). IHI quality improvement games: Learn how to use PDSA cycles by spinning coins [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/evVIMpzahc8
• Phytel. (2016, June 30). A brief on LEAN fundamentals for healthcare edited [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/05ioOgMeSlI
• Stanford Quality Improvement. (2015, May 13). 3. Life of a quality improvement project [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/tcdTPq6U_t0

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) Explain the need for effective data management in healthcare quality. What are the impacts of bad data? How should healthcare organizations ensure data quality? What role does data governance play? Or 2) Of the ground rules listed in critical concept 7.1 (Spath, 2018, chapter 7), which three are most important for a team to adopt, and why? When choosing the rules, consider your past experiences working with a team or decision-making group.

Value Stream Map Activity: There are three parts to this assignment that you will submit in one Word document. Select a simple healthcare process with which you are familiar, identify the key steps to the process, and draft a process map. Note you can use any tool you would like for this (e.g. Word, PPT, etc). There should be at least 6-8 steps in your process to ensure you have sufficient detail. Then, identify from the customer’s perspective, which steps are value-added and which are non-value-added? Shade the non-value-added steps to be a different color.

Next, you will generate a value-added flow analysis in an Excel spreadsheet using QI Macros. QI Macros is an add-in application that enables you to perform specific quality improvement analyses. In QI Macros, enter data in all five columns for the value-stream analysis. To complete this assignment and another assignment in week 5, you can download a 30-day free trial of QI Macros (https://www.qimacros.com/ ). Before you download the free trial, be sure to check that the two assignments will fall within the 30-days.

See the full assignment instructions in Blackboard. You will submit a screenshot of your process map and Value-Added Flow Analysis as well as a 2-3 page written analysis in a WORD document. Refer to the Value Stream Map Rubric for submission standards.

Week 4 – Improving Patient Safety

Learning Outcomes:

• Appraise strategies for increasing the reliability and safety of healthcare processes, including use of technology
• Outline how to measure the effectiveness of improvement actions and sustain gains
• Describe how to create a safety culture in healthcare organizations
  

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapters 8 and 9
• Waterson (2014) Chapters 1-7 and 9

Articles

• Provost, S. M., Lanham, H. J., Leykum, L. K., McDaniel, R. R., & Pugh, J. (2015). Health care huddles: Managing complexity to achieve high reliability. Health Care Management Review, 40(1), 2-12. doi:10.1097/HMR.0000000000000009
• Field, M., Fong, K., & Shade, C. (2018). Use of electronic visibility boards to improve patient care quality, safety, and flow on inpatient pediatric acute care units. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 41, 69-76. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2018.01.015
• Amato, M. G., Salazar, A., Hickman, T. T., Quist, A. J., Volk, L. A., Wright, A., . . . Schiff, G. D. (2017;2016;). Computerized prescriber order entry–related patient safety reports: Analysis of 2522 medication errors. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(2), 316-322. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocw125

Reference

• The Joint Commission. (2018). 2018 hospital national patient safety goals. Retrieve from https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/2018_HAP_NPSG_goals_final.pdf
• The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology SAFER Guides website: (https://www.healthit.gov/topic/safety/safer-guides)

Videos

• HIStalk Webinars. (2015, March 5). 5 steps to improving patient safety & clinical communications with collaborative-based care [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/m-LJGG7KZkg
• MedStar Health. (2014, August 12). Keys to becoming a high reliability organization [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/8MHLxPeoxlc

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) Read the description of the wrong-site surgery event in critical concept 8.2 and the root causes identified by the team who conducted the root cause analysis. Find at least two peer-reviewed sources that identify corrective actions aimed at preventing wrong-site surgeries. Which of these actions would help prevent a similar event from occurring at the hospital described in critical concept 8.2? How can technology be used to support these efforts? Or 2) What does reliability mean to you? In your experience, what healthcare process have you found to be reliable? What process have you found to be unreliable? Explain what is different about the reliable process versus the unreliable process. How can technology be used to support process reliability?

Article Critique: In this assignment, you will apply critical thinking skills to appraise strategies for increasing the reliability and safety of healthcare processes by critiquing an article on a quality improvement initiative. You will choose one of the articles provided and prepare your critique following the guide in the assignment instructions in Blackboard. Write your critique in standard essay form using APA style and format, conventional grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. Your critique should be 4-5 pages, double-spaced, not including cover page and reference page. It is generally best not to follow the author’s organization when organizing your analysis since this approach lends itself to summary rather than analysis. See the full assignment instructions in Blackboard and refer to the Article Critique Rubric for submission standards.

Week 5 – Utilization Management and Applying Statistical Methods

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe utilization management measurement, assessment, and improvement activities
• Identify sources of comparative healthcare utilization data
• Explain how to use analytics to identify improvement opportunities
• Apply statistical methods to detect changes in quality or performance

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapter 10
• Strome (2013) Chapters 8 and 9

Articles

• Rosenthal, M. B., Alidina, S., Friedberg, M. W., Singer, S. J., Eastman, D., Li, Z., & Schneider, E. C. (2016). A difference-in-difference analysis of changes in quality, utilization and cost following the Colorado multi-payer patient-centered medical home pilot. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(3), 289-296. doi:10.1007/s11606-015-3521-1
• Vest, J. R., Jung, H., Ostrovsky, A., Das, L., & McGinty, G. B. (2015). Image sharing technologies and reduction of Imaging utilization: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 12(12), 1371-1379.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2015.09.014
• Usheroff, M. (2017, May 1). California hospitals and health systems report promising outcomes in effort to reduce unnecessary care that can harm patients and drive up spending. Retrieved from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/california-hospitals-and-health-systems-report-promising-outcomes-in-effort-to-reduce-unnecessary-care-that-can-harm-patients-and-drive-up-spending/
• Vogel, L. (2015). Choosing wisely around the world. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 187(11), E341-E342. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-5111

Videos

• Healthcare Financial Management Association. (2015, March 12). Intermountain Healthcare Improves Quality by Reducing Utilization [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/e6dehziik0E
• Healthcare Triage. (2015, October 17). Choosing Wisely is a Great Idea. Does it Work? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/3KnVV51dz9g

Assignment:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) Which utilization management practices does your health insurance company follow to control costs and ensure the provision of medically necessary services? This information may be available in your insurance benefits booklet or on your health plan’s website. If you do not have health insurance, go to the website of any major health insurance company and list the practices the company follows to control costs and to ensure the provision of medically necessary services. Or 2) How is the Choosing Wisely initiative (Vogel, 2015) being used to impact utilization? Is it successful? Why or why not?

Statistical Process Control Activity: Read the articles linked to the assignment instructions in Blackboard on control charts. Use the sample data provided and QI Macros to complete a histogram, run chart, and Pareto chart. Draft a 2-3 page summary of your results including a discussion on the upper control limit and lower control limit of the run chart. In addition to your summary, include a screenshot of each of the charts you completed and submit in one Word document. See Blackboard for the full assignment instructions and refer to the Statistical Process Control Rubric.

Week 6 – Managing Quality in Population Health and Value-Based Care

Learning Outcomes:

• Define population health management and value-based care
• Explain how quality measurement, assessment, and improvement activities are used to manage population health
• Describe how to present and explore information effectively
  

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Spath (2018) Chapter 11
• Strome (2013) Chapter 10

Articles

• NEJM Catalyst. (2017, January 1). What Is Value-Based Healthcare? Retrieved from https://catalyst.nejm.org/what-is-value-based-healthcare/
• Hibbard, J. H., Greene, J., Sacks, R. M., Overton, V., & Parrotta, C. (2017). Improving population health management strategies: Identifying patients who are more likely to be users of avoidable costly care and those more likely to develop a new chronic disease. Health Services Research, 52(4), 1297-1309. doi:10.1111/1475-6773.12545
• Hunt, J. S., Gibson, R. F., Whittington, J., Powell, K., Wozney, B., & Knudson, S. (2015). Guide for developing an information technology investment road map for population health management. Population Health Management, 18(3), 159-171. doi:10.1089/pop.2014.0092
• NEJM Catalyst Forum Report: Analytics for Payer-Provider Collaboration (2017) from NEJM Catalyst website: http://join.catalyst.nejm.org/sponsor/catalyst-deloitte-forum2017
• Sarwar, A., Boland, G., Monks, A., & Kruskal, J. B. (2015). Metrics for radiologists in the era of value-based health care delivery. Radiographics: A Review Publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc, 35(3), 866-876. doi:10.1148/rg.2015140221
• Phillips, J., Robert L, Bazemore, A. W., DeVoe, J. E., Weida, T. J., Krist, A. H., Dulin, M. F., & Biagioli, F. E. (2015). A family medicine health technology strategy for achieving the triple aim for US health care. Family Medicine, 47(8), 628.
• Sheikh, A., Sood, H. S., & Bates, D. W. (2015). Leveraging health information technology to achieve the “triple aim” of healthcare reform. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: JAMIA, 22(4), 849.

Videos

• Phytel. (2014, July 23). Population health management: Using quality metrics to drive improved patient outcomes [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/VKqcs5OmFOA
• Health Catalyst. (2017, February 24). Professor Michael Porter: Value-based care [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/tC-mCqB8Md0

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) Go to the County Health Rankings website (www.countyhealthrankings.org) and explore the health outcomes and health factors data for the county where you reside. Is this information presented in an easy to understand format? Describe one or more population healthcare initiatives that could improve health outcomes or reduce factors that affect health outcomes in your county. Consider this week’s readings in your response. Or 2) How is quality managed in population health and value-based care? Provide examples from the readings to illustrate your key points. How can informatics support this work?

Research Paper-Applying a Performance Improvement Methodology: For this research paper, you will choose one value-based care performance problem from a list provided in the assignment instructions in Blackboard. Next, you will select one performance improvement methodology such as PDSA/PDCA, LEAN or Six Sigma/DMAIC, to apply to your chosen value-based performance problem. Your deliverable is a 5-7 page APA style paper. See the full assignment instructions in Blackboard and refer to the Research Paper Rubric for submission standards.

Week 7 – Analytics for Quality/Performance Improvement

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain how to develop an analytics strategy with a focus on quality and performance improvement
• Describe analytic use cases and advanced analytics for quality improvement/performance improvement
• Provide examples of predictive models and how they are used for quality improvement/performance improvement

Course Materials:

Textbook

• Strome (2013) Chapters 3 and 11

Articles

• Wang, Y., Kung, L., & Byrd, T. A. (2018, 2015). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 126, 3-13. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2015.12.01
• Simpao, A. F., Ahumada, L. M., Gálvez, J. A., & Rehman, M. A. (2014). A review of analytics and clinical informatics in health care. Journal of Medical Systems, 38(4), 1-7. doi:10.1007/s10916-014-0045-x
• Evans, J. R. (2015). Modern analytics and the future of quality and performance excellence. Quality Management Journal, 22(4), 6-17. doi:10.1080/10686967.2015.11918447
• Porter, M. E., Larsson, S., & Lee, T. H. (2016). Standardizing patient outcomes measurement. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(6), 504-506. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1511701
• McGlynn, E. A., Schneider, E. C., & Kerr, E. A. (2014). Reimagining quality measurement. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(23), 2150-2153. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1407883
• Srinivas, T. R., Taber, D. J., Su, Z., Zhang, J., Mour, G., Northrup, D., . . . Mauldin, P. D. (2017). Big data, predictive analytics, and quality improvement in kidney transplantation: A proof of concept. American Journal of Transplantation, 17(3), 671-681. doi:10.1111/ajt.14099

Videos

• TEDx Talks. (2016, February 1). Applying big data to little patients: Srinivasan Suresh [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/o7Qtb9mmCSU
• Jvion Health. (2015, February 20). Predictive analytics in healthcare [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/oBJZotr6sS8
• Microsoft Power BI. (2016, March 22). Improving healthcare with machine learning and advanced analytics [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/67udrPz7dyQ

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1) Explain how advanced analytics is being used for quality/performance improvement. Provide two specific examples. Consider this week’s readings and videos in your response. Or, 2) Describe how the analytics strategy framework could be used for quality/performance improvement. Which step do you think might be the most challenging to implement? Explain why?

Analytics Use Case: For this assignment, you will download the Analytics Use Case (form plus examples) from the Strome (2013) textbook and complete the template for the following scenario. Norfolk Health has one hospital and four clinics in the community. Norfolk has an integrated EHR system in places and uses lean methods for quality improvement. The organization now wants to develop a population health QI program related to childhood immunization status.

Select one of the immunization measures provided in the assignment instructions in Blackboard and complete the use case template that describes how analytics might be used to support this work. You will submit your completed use case template. See the full assignment instructions in Blackboard and refer to the Analytics Use Case Rubric for submission standards.

Week 8 – Putting Healthcare Quality and Safety into Practice

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain how to put quality and a patient safety culture into practice
• Describe the requirements to become an analytical organization
• Explain how to build effective analytic teams

Course Materials:

Textbooks

• Waterson (2014) Chapters 15 and 16
• Strome (2013) Chapter 12

Articles

• HIMSS Clinical & Business Intelligence Operationalizing the Value of the Data TaskForce. (2013). ThedaCare’s clinical & business intelligence journey. Retrieved from https://createvalue.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HIMSS-CBI_2013-02-25_ThedaCare-Case-Study-FINAL.pdf
• Emswiler, T., Nichols, L. M. (2009). Baylor health care system: High-performance integrated health care. (pub. 1246 Vol. 10,1-22. Retrieved from Commonwealth Fund website: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/files/publications/case-study/2009/march/baylor-health-care-system/1246_emswiler_baylor_case_study_rev.pdf
• Bresnick, J. (2018, February 5). VA to get “aggressive” with hospital quality improvement program [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://healthitanalytics.com/news/va-to-get-aggressive-with-hospital-quality-improvement-program
• Khalifa, M., & Zabani, I. (2016). Utilizing health analytics in improving the performance of healthcare services: A case study on a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 9(6), 757-765. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2016.08.016

Video

• Medstar Health. (2014, March 19). Annie’s Story: How A system’s approach can change safety culture [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/zeldVu-3DpM

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Please choose one of the following discussion questions for your initial post: 1)Describe what is required to become an analytical organization. Which step do you think would be most challenging and why? How can healthcare organizations build effective analytic teams? Or, 2) How can healthcare organizations put a patient safety or QI culture into practice? Provide two examples other than the reading assignment.

Reflection Paper: Provide a response of about 350-500 words that reflect on what we have covered in this class and your experience. What are the top three things you learned in this class and why? Make sure to address both healthcare quality and informatics in your response. How can you apply these learnings? How is what you learned in this class to your current and/or future work?

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• https://www.apastyle.org

UNE Libraries:

• Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
• MSIN Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/health-informatics/
• Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.