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Academics

Quality, Patient Safety and Outcomes Research

Overview

The certificate program is designed for graduate students from the Johns Hopkins Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing and health-related professionals interested in quality, patient safety, and outcomes research. 

Educational Objectives

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

Course of Study

Students should carefully review the certificate program page on the JHU e-catalogue site for full information about courses and program requirements. 

Eligibility

The certificate program is open to currently enrolled masters and doctoral students at The Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, with the exception of JHSPH MAS students, who are not eligible to apply until they have completed their degree program.  It is also offered to non-degree students who have 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 Process

Applying to the certificate program as a JHU graduate student

Students already enrolled in a graduate program at JHU are not required to submit the School's electronic admissions application, but must submit declaration of intent prior to starting coursework. Priority deadline to submit intent is October 1; Final deadline is December 1.

Start terms: It is possible to begin the certificate program only in these terms: 1, 2, & 3.

Applying to the certificate program as a non-degree student

Students who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program at JHU are required to apply to certificate programs using SOPHAS Express. All non-degree applicants should review the general Certificates Admissions page for instructions on how to apply to a certificate program and application deadlines. 

Start terms: It is possible to begin the certificate program only in these terms: 1 & 3.

TOEFL/IELTS: Required.

Prerequisites or special requirements: Successful applicants will have at least three years of professional health care experience in a related field. 

Requirements for Successful Completion

The student should review the section of the website that addresses completion before completing certificate program requirements.The student's transcript will not indicate that the certificate was earned until the Notification of Completion has been submitted, verified by the certificate program and processed by the Registrar.

Contact Information

Sponsoring Department
Health Policy and Management

Certificate Program Contact
Name: Pamela Davis
Phone: 410.614.1580
Email: HPM_Certificates@jhu.edu

Faculty Sponsor
Name: Albert Wu, MD, MPH

Program Co-Director
Name: Lilly Engineer, MD, DrPH, MHA