HCA 621 - Health Care Quality Improvement Tools and Methodologies

Units: 4
Provides the development of quality assessment and improvement skills, a survey of methodologies and tools such as Six Sigma and Lean Thinking, an exploration of emerging trends, and an overview of the principles of instrumentation and measurement of health outcomes.

Prerequisites: Admission to the MS-HCA program, HCA 611 and HCA 612.
Co-requisites: HCA 622.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground, or Entirely Online, or Hybrid.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Compare and contrast various health care quality improvement methodologies, such as Six Sigma, Lean Thinking, and Total Quality Management.
Apply the principles of instrumentation and measurement of health outcomes, including health status, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and disability measures.
Design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement projects.
Trace the evolution of the quality improvement movement in the U.S. health care system.
Utilize a systems-thinking approach to quality issue identification and problem solving.
Create formal class presentations that demonstrate the ability to think critically, take information from different sources and create something new, and work collaboratively in a team with diverse team members.
Utilize APA publishing guidelines for writing research papers, discussion papers, and critical essays that demonstrate an integration of knowledge, are well-organized and well-written, display an understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources, reflect critical thinking, and are free of plagiarism.