Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Quality and risk management are increasingly important areas of activity for health care professionals with regard to clinical and administrative services, and more generally within health services as a whole. This subject introduces you to the concepts and processes of quality management in health including healthcare organisation, standards and accreditation within hospitals, community health and primary care.

Aims

This unit aims to provide a broad overview of health service and clinical management, and is suitable for all undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in a health-related degree.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. discuss the underlying concepts and principles of quality management in health care including clinical governance and performance measures
2. develop quality management programs and design criteria audits to evaluate health services using quality management tools
3. understand the health organisation accreditation process including standards and survey cycles
4. understand outcome performance measures, clinical audit and utilisation of data to improve outcomes
5. understand the concepts of clinician credentialing and profiling within a clinical quality framework
6. examine issues relating to administrative and clinical data quality, documentation and safety within an increasingly electronic environment
7. apply concepts of risk management, root cause analysis and organisational change management necessary to implement process changes.
Throughout all aspects of this unit you will be expected to demonstrate sensitivity to and an understanding of cultural and gender-related issues as appropriate.

Content

This unit covers the following areas:
· Quality Management Concepts - History and overview, continuous quality improvement, total quality management
· Quality Management Programs and Methods - Risk management, utilisation management, benchmarking, best practice, quality improvement tools, process improvement cycles; planning a quality agenda
· Accreditation - Quality oversight organisations incl. ACHS: standards and EquIP cycles; CHASP
· Measuring Health Care Performance - Clinical indicators, outcome performance measures, adverse events; clinical audit; strategy of program implementation; utilising data for action
· Health Care Governance and Clinician Profiling - Clinical Governance, credentialing; clinical quality framework
· Data Quality, documentation and information safety
· Monitoring data quality in administrative and clinical information in an electronic environment; health record documentation requirements and safety of information
· Risk Management - Integrated risk management programs, root cause analysis
Change Management - Principles and methods for implementing process change (organisational culture issues)

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is available for external study only. The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures, tutorials, and practical research and assessment items. Education opportunities for this unit include lectures, discussions, seminars and self-directed learning.

Assessment

There are two assessments to be completed throughout the semester.Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit.
Feedback on the activities conducted in tutorials will form the basis of the formative assessment (Learning Outcomes: 1-7). In addition, written and oral feedback associated with the marking of assessment will constitute formative assessment for the unit.

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be expected to produce a criteria audit on quality management in the field. The purpose of this first written assignment is to equip you with practical skills in developing a quality management tool relative to health services.
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Case Study and Presentation
Description: You will be expected to choose a case and critically analyse the quality aspects associated with the issue. The group will present their findings.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Text

There is no required text for this unit.

Recommended Text

Ransom S., Joshi M., and Nash D. (2005) The Healthcare Quality Book - Vision, Strategy and Tools. Health Administration Press, Chicago, Illinois, AUPHA Press, Washington, DC.

Other References

Wilson, L. & Goldschmidt, P. (1995) Quality Management in Healthcare. NSW:McGraw Hill.

Deming, W. E (1982) Out of the Crisis. UK: Cambridge University Press.

Harris, M and Associates (2006)
Managing Health Services: Concepts and Practice.
NSW: Elsevier.

ACHS (2001) Clinical Indicator User's Manual

ACHS (2003) The EquIP Guide: Standards and Guidelines for the ACHS Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program www.achs.org.au

Case Studies in class

Various Journals

Journal of Quality in Clinical Practice

Risk assessment statement

There are no anticipated risks associated with learning in this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 07-Sep-2012