Units
Systems of Quality and Safety in Health Care
Unit code: PUN214
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit examines the application of quality and safety systems to ensure patient safety in health care environments. It covers quality certification and accreditation systems, their coverage and application to different health care settings, safety systems and models, performance management and case studies.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit examines the theory behind, and the use of, quality and safety systems to ensure patient safety in health care environments. It is one of four units offered as part of the Health Quality Management major strand and has been developed to address expectations of the health industry for managers to have in-depth knowledge of health care quality and patient safety systems and their implementation. It is designed to build on PUN213 Introduction to Quality Management in Health..
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with an in depth understanding of the models and systems that exist to maintain and improve individual patient safety and health care quality.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
- Apply your knowledge of national and international health care quality and patient safety systems to the development and implementation of health care quality and safety systems in your work environment
- Describe the value and limitations of certification and accreditation systems for health care and the role of the manager in their implementation
- Apply quality and patient safety performance measurement frameworks and methods to the management of health care
- Describe findings and apply learnings from national and international case studies about the impact of quality and safety systems on improving patient outcomes and about how their absence negatively affects patient care.
Content
This unit will cover four areas:
Systems
- accreditation, regulations, legislation, mandatory standards and reporting
- accreditation systems in other jurisdictions, eg JCAHCO/NHS
- further detail on the 6 domains of quality
- models, tools and techniques (6 sigma, lean thinking, PDCS, clinical audit, mortality and morbidity review, root cause analysis)
Safety
- reactive, proactive systems
- systemic incident analysis
- task safety analysis
- health care failure mode effects analysis
Performance measurement
- performance management frameworks, systems, structures, toolsl
- levels of risk
- controls
- reporting
- pay for performance/incentives
- evaluation methods
Case study applications
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit will be available in internal and external mode. The unit will be delivered through lectures, contemporary readings and journal articles, a detailed study guide and tutorials for internal students. Lectures may include guest presentations by health managers with experience in health care quality and safety. Audio recordings of lectures and industry guest speakers will be available on your unit's Blackboard teaching site.
Assessment
There are two (2) assessments to be completed through the semester - a workbook and an industry based report.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. You will receive written feedback associated with the marking of assessments.
Assessment name:
Workbook
Description:
You will be provided with readings to undertake and questions to answer that require you to critically analyse the information read.
Relates to objectives:
1-2
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
You will choose a quality and safety issue in your workplace or one that has been well documented and analyse in a report style in 3000 words the issues and the approach that a health manager would take to address these issues.
Relates to objectives:
1-4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End 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
There is no prescribed text for this unit. You will be provided with specific materials and information about reference texts at the commencement of the unit. Additional reference materials may be provided through tutorials and lectures during the semester.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
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: 17-Oct-2012
