NEW GRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED FOCUSING ON HEALTH CARE QUALITY
GW Launches Masters of Science in Health Science and Masters of Science in Nursing in the Field of Healthcare Quality
WASHINGTON – The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with the National Committee for Quality Assurance, will launch two new Masters degree programs focusing on Health Care Quality. Students can pursue either an MS in Nursing or an MS in Health Sciences in Health Care Quality, which will prepare them to lead the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of health care quality and patient safety initiatives. The development of the program stems from the growing demand for quality and patient safety specialists who have the capacity and competence to grow and sustain a culture of continuous improvement in the health care delivery system.
“These new degree programs will give our graduates a unique and needed skill in the forefront of a changing health care market. This coursework will develop graduates who have the capability to vastly improve the quality of health care in our nation,” said Jean Johnson, senior associate dean, Health Sciences programs.
Modern health care systems receive payment based on health care outcomes, therefore, payment is now often linked to quality. This means that institutions must have processes, systems and people in place to measure and monitor these outcomes. Some hospitals, nursing homes, group practices and health plans have staff members who are dedicated to monitoring and improving quality, but there is a growing need for additional qualified professionals to fill this role.
“The field of health care quality has come a long ways in the past two decades. It provides a terrific opportunity to improve health care and quality of life for large populations of patients,” said NCQA Chief Operating Officer Esther Emard. “This partnership with GW will provide health care professionals the opportunity to learn best practices and become leaders in performing regular, comprehensive assessments of health care services and improving the quality of health care.”
The degree program is designed to support the six domains of quality and safety content defined in the Institute of Medicine report titled, Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality. Those domains include patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics. Published data and standards from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Institute for Health Improvement (IHI), and the Joint Commission have also guided the curriculum. The learning objectives are consistent with the American College of Medical Quality (ACMQ) “Core Curriculum for Medical Quality Management” and The American Association of Colleges of Nursing “The essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing.” The curriculum also supports the CPHQ examination requirements.
The first group of students will begin course work that will be delivered through distance education and some executive format on-campus experiences, in January 2010.
About The George Washington University Medical Center
The George Washington University Medical Center is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary academic health center that has consistently provided high-quality medical care in the Washington, DC metropolitan area since 1824. The Medical Center comprises the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the 11th oldest medical school in the country; the School of Public Health and Health Services, the only such school in the nation’s capital; GW Hospital, jointly owned and operated by a partnership between The George Washington University and a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc.; and the GW Medical Faculty Associates, an independent faculty practice plan. For more information on GWUMC, visit www.gwumc.edu.
About the National Committee for Quality Assurance
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians in key clinical areas. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information through the Web, media and data licensing agreements in order to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.
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