First requirements for graduate applications

Preliminary requirements for accreditation of graduate applications within the burgeoning skilled self-discipline of healthcare high quality and security (HQS) are introduced within the November/December subject of the American Journal of Medical High quality, official journal of the American Faculty of Medical High quality.

The brand new requirements “supplied a vital first step towards establishing requirements for accrediting HQS applications in North America, and outlined the sphere of HQS,” in line with the article by members of the HQS Accreditation Requirements Committee. The lead creator is Willie H. Oglesby, Ph.D., MBA, MSPH, FACHE, of Thomas Jefferson College, Philadelphia.

Growth of content material and domains for HQS program accreditation

Healthcare high quality and security professionals play a number one position in directing high quality enchancment and affected person security applications. Professionals working in HQS have traditionally come from a variety of disciplines, akin to nursing, enterprise, well being informatics, well being administration, and public well being. It’s more and more acknowledged that graduate applications in these numerous fields don’t deal with the domains and expertise particular to HQS. The brand new requirements outline the important thing content material and processes for accreditation of the rising variety of graduate applications in HQS.

The event course of arose out of preliminary discussions in 2016 by the Fee on Accreditation of Healthcare Administration Schooling (CAHME), together with school at Thomas Jefferson College and the College of Alabama at Birmingham.  These discussions led to settlement on a set of organizing ideas for an strategy to accrediting graduate applications in HQS. Dedication and funding had been supplied by CAHME and 12 Founding Member establishments. The Nationwide Affiliation for Healthcare High quality supplied assist with logistical help and engagement with the HQS group.

A committee construction was fashioned to develop general standards for accreditation and particular content material domains for the “inextricably linked” fields of healthcare high quality and affected person security. A set of competency statements was developed for 13 HQS content material domains, together with 4 “foundational” domains: security and error science, enchancment science and high quality ideas, evidence-based follow, and measurement and course of enchancment.

The report in AJMQ presents a desk summarizing every of the 13 content material domains, together with descriptions, pattern competencies, and examples of information, expertise, and attitudes related to every area. “Whereas all of the domains have to be included within the curricula, applications are inspired to individualize their curricula primarily based on mission, scholar wants, and different elements,” Dr. Oglesby and colleagues write.

The proposed requirements had been adopted by the CAHME in 2019. Processes and standards for documentation had been established; accreditation durations will typically final seven years for established applications and three years for brand spanking new applications. Packages at 9 of the 12 Founding Member establishments are at present candidates, with the primary applications anticipated to be accredited in 2022–23.

The requirements are an vital milestone for HQS as an expert self-discipline, with advantages together with help for every accredited program’s ongoing dedication to steady enchancment. The authors add, “Accreditation additionally supplies a framework for instructing and coaching excellence that helps tradition change for healthcare methods”—a vital purpose in making certain that high quality and security are valued.

Accredited educational applications will play a key position in guiding the continued growth of HQS as an expert self-discipline. Dr. Oglesby and coauthors conclude: “Because the HQS discipline is quickly evolving and as employment {and professional} engagement matures, the content material domains and different components of program accreditation will change to mirror present skilled follow.”