Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module has the following aims:

1.       To introduce learners to the principles of quality improvement and service redesign in the health care setting.
2.       To appraise the theory of change management in the health care context.
3.       To develop and demonstrate skills in quality improvement techniques.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module has been designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to drive positive change in health care systems, with content that is flexible, to navigate the ever-evolving challenges and innovations shaping the field of quality improvement.
     
1.       Identifying the need for change
      Exploring contemporary issues in health care
      Drivers for change
      Stakeholders and service user involvement
     
2.       Managing change
      Models and tools
      Barriers to change
      Change and system improvement
      Leadership for change
      Effective communication and collaboration
     
3.       Planning for Quality Improvement
      Determine the root cause of a problem
      Develop effective improvement strategies and project plan
      Evaluating change
      Sustaining improvement
      Sharing best practice

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of the module students should be able to:
1. Appraise the multifaceted dynamics influencing health care quality improvement, recognising the diverse drivers and their impacts on service users, clinical providers, and policy makers.

2. Evaluate the practical application of various quality improvement techniques and theoretical models in the health care context.
     
3. Critically analyse barriers to health care quality improvement and recommend interventions to mitigate and manage them.
     
4. Evaluate and recommend service redesign strategies by integrating theoretical principles with practical considerations in the health care context at local, national, and international levels.

Intended Skill Outcomes

On completion of the module students should be able to:
1.Formulate a quality improvement project charter relevant to an aspect of service provision or practice development in an authentic health care context.

2.Demonstrate the appropriate application of tools and techniques to improve the quality of a clinical service or professional practice in an authentic health care context.

3.Justify quality improvements through coherent written and oral arguments.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The majority of the module will be delivered using online asynchronous teaching methods including pre-recorded materials, integrated learning activities, and directed reading. This will support learners to gain a detailed knowledge of the theory and practice of health care quality improvement and evidence-based service redesign. A significant component of the module comprises fieldwork, so that learners can identify an idea, as well as formulate and refine a project charter, to improve an aspect of service provision relevant to their own health care context.

Synchronous learning activities including online live tutorials, will broaden the learner’s knowledge of planning for quality improvement and encourage effective communication and offers the opportunity for learners to justify quality improvements and demonstrate the appropriate application of tools.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Oral presentation – This short presentation will assess the learners proposed quality improvement idea and service re-design strategies. Leaners will outline their improvement idea to an audience, which includes peers and module contributors. The feedback from this supportive environment can be taken into the written summative assessment.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT:
Written exercise – Students will submit the finalised project charter, in a standard format. This format is commonly required for quality improvement projects in practice and requires students to demonstrate the application of the theory and practice of change management in the health care context.

MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 50 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.

Resit – Students will be required to resubmit their project charter.

General Notes

N/A