Healthcare quality and patient safety are priorities for consumers, as well as clinicians and managers of hospitals, nursing homes, physician practices, and other health care facilities. With the introduction of value-based contracting and accountable care agreements, providers are under growing pressure to achieve better patient outcomes. Recent research suggests that medical error may be considered the third leading cause of death in the United States. A fundamental strategy for improving patient experience and care quality is the introduction of quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, and greater attention to health literacy and communication skills of all personnel. In addition to patient care improvements, these initiatives are requisite management strategies for avoiding financial penalties imposed by insurers.
This 12-credit Certificate of Graduate Study in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety (HQPS) provides healthcare professionals, administrators, and public health practitioners with the skills to develop and manage such initiatives. These interprofessional practical skills are important to mid-career professionals, pre-career students and individuals who aspire to quality improvement roles in healthcare delivery, as well as students of quality improvement who work or plan to work in settings such as community or population health.
This certificate provides individuals from diverse academic backgrounds with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in health literacy and communication, quality improvement, and patient safety. The HQPS certificate also offers students the opportunity to pursue interests in health systems, basic public health sciences, and data analysis and translation. Certificate students who apply for, and are admitted to, the MPH degree, may transfer in the credits from their certificate course work. Current MPH students may apply for admission to the Certificate program and complete the requirements by taking Certificate courses as MPH electives.
To meet the diverse needs of our students, all public health graduate courses can be taken online. The three required certificate courses are offered using weekly, asynchronous online technology. Classroom courses meet once a week on the USM Portland campus (with an online Zoom option) and are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening for the convenience of working students. Electives may be accessible live-at-a-distance via two-way audio/video through Zoom or other technology.
For more information, please contact:
Judy Tupper, DHEd, MCHES, CPPS
Practice Faculty, Public Health Program at the Muskie School & Director, Population Health Program of the Cutler Institute
Phone: (207) 228-8407
Email: judy.tupper@maine.edu
