Certificate Programs

Overview

Sponsoring department

• Health Policy and Management

Educational Objectives

The certificate is designed for graduate students and fellows from the Johns Hopkins Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing and health-related professionals interested in quality, patient safety, and outcomes research. The certificate requires a mentored practicum that provides a hands-on, supervised experience in research or practice related to quality of care, patient safety, or outcomes research. The practicum may be conducted in a health care setting or organization or with a team of researchers, subject to approval by the certificate faculty.

Those who complete the certificate will gain competencies in quality, patient safety, and outcomes research; however the certificate does not provide training in conducting research. Students completing the certificate will be able to:

Quality

1. Describe several frameworks and theories for assessing and improving the quality of medical care

2. Describe current key policy and programmatic areas in quality of care

3. Understand how to assess quality of care for a medical condition

4. Describe key elements of published quality assessment and improvement studies

5. Understand how to develop a workable quality improvement and evaluation plan

Safety

1. Recognize the extent of problems in patient safety in medical care

2. Describe the role of various systems and factors in creating safety and in causing errors and adverse events

3. Discuss problems and issues in measuring and reporting safety

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the basics of conducting an incident investigation and disclosing an adverse event

5. Design solutions to improve patient safety

6. Understand the ethical, legal, and regulatory implications related to patient safety

Patient Outcomes Research

1. Argue for the importance and challenges of using patient and consumer reported measures in research, clinical practice, and program evaluation

2. Compare the different types of instruments available to measure health related quality of life

3. Critique the use of commonly used patient reported outcomes in specific applications

4. Plan the development of a new questionnaire

5. Understand the role of patient-centered outcomes research in improving health, including its place in the U.S. research portfolio; the importance of stakeholders in the research process; and policy implications related to implementation

6. Identify study designs and methodologies unique to patient outcomes research

Gainful Employment Program Information

Intended Audience

The certificate is open to currently enrolled masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students at The Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, as well as School of Medicine residents and fellows engaged in outcomes and comparative effectiveness research. It is also offered to non-degree students with at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, a strong record of successful academic performance, and a minimum of three years (full-time equivalent) of professional experience in a related health care field.

Admissions Criteria

Bloomberg School of Public Health masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students

are not required to submit a formal application through the Admissions Office. They, however, should contact the Certificate faculty sponsor to discuss electives and the practicum.

All others (masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students from the Schools of Medicine and Nursing; School of Medicine residents and fellows; and non-degree students)

must apply to the program using the school’s online application. Applications are accepted throughout the year. The certificate application includes official transcripts from all post-secondary schools, a CV or resume, a statement of purpose vis-à-vis the certificate, and one letter of recommendation. Transcripts from non-US institutions must be approved by a credentialing agency. Degree students must include a brief written statement from their academic advisor giving approval to take the certificate courses. The certificate program will review the applications and notify each applicant of its admissions decision. Only those approved by the certificate admissions committee may earn the certificate.