Developing Knowledge

New program for medical professionals aims to improve patient safety

Physicians, clinicians, senior-level emergency department staff, nurse practitioners and hospital administrators may benefit from the newest groundbreaking initiative offered by Harvard Medical School’s Office for Global Education — an educational program designed to develop knowledge and skills in patient safety, quality, informatics and leadership in a hospital setting.

The HMS Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership Program (SQIL), beginning in April, is a one-year certificate program designed to help develop knowledge and skills in the science and implementation of safety and quality programs. It will be open to medical professionals around the globe.

Image: Courtesy Office for Global Education

Get more HMS news here

“The SQIL program is uniquely tailored to the needs of the physician, nurse and administrative leaders who either work or seek to work in safety, quality and informatics,” said Ajay Singh, associate dean for Global Education. “The blended educational approach allows students to access state-of-the-art instruction anywhere in the world at a time and location convenient to their individual needs.”

Similar to the Institute of Medicine’s Learning Healthcare System, the program reflects the philosophy that deep understanding of patient safety is inextricably linked to the delivery of quality health care.

The program will consist of three, in-person, three-day workshops at the beginning, mid-point and conclusion of instruction, with online courses, webinars and teaching occurring throughout.

Who Should Apply?

The SQIL program is designed for health care professionals with a doctoral-level degree (such as MD, PhD, MBBS, MBChB, DNP, MSN, DMD, DDC, PharmD) or master’s-level degree (MBA, MPH, MSc).

The 2015-2016 SQIL program will begin on April 24, 2015, and end on April 10, 2016.

During the first year, the blended-learning approach will combine the traditional face-to-face teaching methods of three workshops with webinars to form an integrated instructional approach. Students will have 24/7 access to all learning content and can participate at any time and place best suited to their needs.

The program emphasizes team-based learning, with students working together in groups to collaborate, discuss and solve problems while also learning from each other — a method that leads to a deeper and more enduring understanding of topics.

In addition, students will have access to faculty for methodological guidance and support; they will work in teams throughout the year to promote collaborative efforts and online interaction.

What Is the Program Curriculum?

The program curriculum focuses on three core areas: leadership and effective change management, information technology, and principles of patient safety and quality improvement.

It is made up of approximately 20 webinar lectures and 30 recorded online lectures of 45 minutes each. The webinars and lectures are supported by the three workshops involving case discussions around the Learning Healthcare System; implementing change in the skills development setting of a simulation center; and learning how to integrate quality, safety and informatics into the health care delivery environment.

During the program's final phase, students will be expected to develop and present a capstone project, which will demonstrate a strategy for measurable improvement in an area that addresses safety, clinical outcomes, efficiency (waste and cost reduction), patient satisfaction or health care process design.

Graduates of the program will receive a certificate of completion and will be eligible to become associate members of the Harvard Medical School and Harvard University Alumni Association.

Detailed information about the program is available on the web at hms.harvard.edu/sqil.