Emory Quality Academy: Practical Methods for Healthcare Improvement

Dates

September 13, 2023 - March 20, 2024 

See full schedule of class meetings below  

Course Credit

This course provides CME and CNE credits but is not part of an Emory degree program and will not be formally graded.

• The Emory University School of Medicine designates this course for a maximum of 11 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The Emory University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 
• Emory Nursing Professional Development Center (ENPDC) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.  Attendees to this activity will be awarded contact hours by ENPDC upon completion of the activity evaluation and by participating in 90% of the activity time. 
• No conflict of interest has been found with the speaker(s) for this activity nor with the planning committee members.

Course Goals

This course is designed to give you real experience. Graduates of this course will be able to:

• Lead a team to implement effective solutions to an identified improvement opportunity. 
• Apply high-reliability concepts to interventions for quality and safety. 
• Think and act as a leader in equality and safety in healthcare. 

Learning Format

This course is structured around a project you will select, with the class content sequenced to support progress on the project. A coach with QI expertise is assigned to each project team and serves as a resource and adjunctive teacher. Some content will be provided through readings and watching recorded lectures (asynchronous learning at your pace), while other content will take place through in-person or virtual classes where we are all present together (synchronous learning). 

Project

Before the course begins, you should identify a suitable project. Characteristics of projects that tend to be a good match for the course are:

• Something you might reasonably be doing as part of your job
• Addressing an identified need
• Aligned with priorities of the health system or your department
• Within your sphere of control or influence
• Not overly dependent upon assistance from informatics or other scarce resources
• Ready for analysis and action so that you can make progress during the course
• Have data available or the ability to easily measure the process and outcomes involved

Discuss potential projects with your supervisor or leader to ensure you have adequate support and alignment. It is absolutely fine for course participants to work together on the same project, whether you come as a team or link up once the course starts.

Participation

• Prepare for class sessions as outlined in the schedule below. The video link for the course will be the same for each remote class session and will be sent in a calendar invitation.

• Attend all class sessions, as content builds upon prior classes.

  • With your department, work out your schedule to be free of obligations. If needed, ask for the time to be available for the required pre-work. Many past participants found it helpful to plan the whole day away from work on a class day.

  • If you must miss class, which happens, please let us know so we can help direct you or identify alternative ways to catch up.

• If you have difficulty participating fully in aspects of the course for any reason, please let us know. We will work with you to reduce those challenges. 
• Talk with us if you feel you cannot continue in the course due to life events, obligations, etc. We will welcome you to pick back up in a future class.

Technology

• Computer with webcam and microphone (or earbuds or headset with microphone) to enable you to participate remotely. A telephone can be used for audio if your computer does not have a microphone. A smartphone with a camera can be used for video meetings, though you will want a computer available, also.

• Adequate internet access for video streaming.

• A Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint site will be used as the file sharing platform for course content and for you to upload your assignments and final project. An invitation to the folders will be sent before the first class meeting. 

Online Presence 

The synchronous video sessions will be interactive when we are all present online. Please be prepared to have your camera on for these sessions so you can fully participate. An important aspect of the course is building our community of colleagues engaged in this critical work. 

Schedule