Leader: Professor J Stoelwinder & Dr S Evans

Offered

Alfred Hospital Second semester 2008 (Day)
Alfred Hospital Second semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

The safety and quality of health care services is a vital issue for health services managers and health care professionals. This unit provides an examination of the issues and principles of measuring and improving quality in health care.
The unit involves a structured review of the necessary theoretical concepts via WebCT based modules, readings and weekly on-line discussion of the application of these concepts to dealing with safety and quality in practice, creating an opportunity to also reflect and learn from fellow students. This is supplemented by a workshop with senior health care management practitioners. 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.

Objectives

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%.

Contact hours

15 contact hours over 2 days

Off Campus Attendance Requirements

15 contact hours over 2 days