Program Description
Healthcare Quality and Safety (HQS) is the study and prevention of adverse events, suboptimal care, ineffective treatments, inefficient processes and unnecessary clinical variation in health systems.
Master’s Degree
The Master of Science (MS) builds upon the foundation concepts presented in the Graduate Certificate and focuses on the advanced application of HQS concepts necessary for the analysis, management, and improvement of HQS and the systems that deliver healthcare services. This option contains 10 online courses and a capstone project, which is specifically designed to enhance the student’s career trajectory. This option can be completed in two years.
Science Track
Students wishing to practice within the United States will learn how to apply HQS concepts to the organization, delivery and financing of healthcare services specific to the unique aspects of the U.S. healthcare system.
International Track
Students wishing to practice outside the U.S. will learn to apply HQS concepts to other healthcare environments, such as socialized and nationalized healthcare models and resource constrained healthcare systems with diverse regulatory requirements.
Management Track
Students with an MBA, MHA, or qualifying education from our program partners will combine their prior management training with HQS program concepts to lead quality improvement and patient safety in large, complex organizations
Advanced Practice Certificate
The Advanced Practice Certificates focus on building knowledge and skills in healthcare quality and safety or health system science. The primary audiences include: health professions students, medical residents and fellows, clinical faculty, and healthcare professionals interested in moving into administrative roles. Students have the choice of earning the APC in:
- Healthcare Quality & Safety
- Healthcare Quality & Safety Education
- Health Systems Science
- Health Systems Science Education
Students may earn the APC in either:
- Healthcare Quality & Safety
- Health Quality & Safety (QIPS track)
Program Outcomes
The HQS program prepares graduates to lead the transition of healthcare delivery towards high-value care by preparing them to:
Graduate Certificate
- Apply management and leadership skills to develop policies related to measurement and improvement of HQS
- Integrate change management theory into project management program design to improve healthcare quality and patient safety
- Distinguish the various factors that influence risk in health care and discuss the legal principles and regulatory mechanisms that relate to it
- Apply the foundational concepts of quality and safety measurement, improvement and analysis within the framework of collaborative team dynamics and change management
Master’s Degree (Above Plus)
- Produce evidence to support healthcare policy development and change
- Integrate quality, safety, and transformation/change management tools to promote patient safety
- Design and implement performance improvement strategies at a system level
- Assimilate interprofessional collaboration into an organizational strategic plan for compliance with internal and external influences on quality and safety
- Evaluate effectiveness of various performance improvement interventions and outcomes
- Develop systematic approaches to drive broad-impacting improvements in clinical outcomes across the healthcare continuum
Curriculum: 2 Years1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science (Science Track) | ||
| HPL 500 | US Healthcare Org & Delivery | 3 |
| HQS 500 | Intro Healthcare Qual & Safety | 3 |
| HQS 509 | Appl Princ of Healthcare Qulty | 3 |
| HQS 515 | Appl Princ of Patient Safety | 3 |
| OPX 520 | Change Management | 3 |
| HPL 520 | Fund of Pract-Based Statistics | 3 |
| HQS 512 | Business Case for Quality | 3 |
| HQS 505 | Adv Tools & Methods for HQS | 3 |
| HQS 507 | Adv Appl of HQS in Clin Set | 3 |
| Elective (Program Director Approval) | ||
| HQS 650 | Capstone | 1.5,3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science (Management Track) | ||
| HPL 500 | US Healthcare Org & Delivery | 3 |
| HQS 500 | Intro Healthcare Qual & Safety | 3 |
| HQS 515 | Appl Princ of Patient Safety | 3 |
| OPX 520 | Change Management | 3 |
| HPL 520 | Fund of Pract-Based Statistics | 3 |
| HQS 512 | Business Case for Quality | 3 |
| HQS 505 | Adv Tools & Methods for HQS | 3 |
| HQS 507 | Adv Appl of HQS in Clin Set | 3 |
| Elective (Program Director Approval) | ||
| HQS 650 | Capstone | 1.5,3 |
| Total Credits | 25.5-27 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Masters of Science (International Track) | ||
| HPL 550 | Comparative Health Systems | 3 |
| HQS 502 | Intro to International HQS | 3 |
| HQS 509 | Appl Princ of Healthcare Qulty | 3 |
| HQS 515 | Appl Princ of Patient Safety | 3 |
| OPX 520 | Change Management | 3 |
| HPL 520 | Fund of Pract-Based Statistics | 3 |
| HQS 512 | Business Case for Quality | 3 |
| HQS 505 | Adv Tools & Methods for HQS | 3 |
| HQS 507 | Adv Appl of HQS in Clin Set | 3 |
| Elective (Program Director Approval) | ||
| HQS 650 | Capstone | 1.5,3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Elective Options | ||
| HQS 504 | High Reliability | 3 |
| HQS 508 | Quality in Post-Acute Care Set | 3 |
| OPX 540 | Baldrige | 3 |
| OPX 550 | Fundamentals of 6 Sigma DMAIC | 3 |
Footnotes:
- Waived for members of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) who hold the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential.
- Waived for members of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) who have completed qualifying courses in the SHM Leadership Academy (Master's only).
Waived for those who have completed the High Reliability Academy. - Waived for ISQua Fellows (after completion of modules).
- Waived for members of the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) who have completed the master's pre-requisites, or graduates of an accredited MBA/MHA program.
There is a maximum number of credits that can be waived or substituted. Students must claim applicable waivers at time of admission. See Student Handbook for more details.
*All Masters' tracks culminate in a Capstone which incorporates knowledge and skills gained through the master's program education. The Capstone should advance knowledge which can be applied to the student’s discipline and/or organization.