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Quality Assurance Management Methods for Developing Countries

Prerequisite:

Introduction to Online Learning.

Description:

Presents the principles and practice of total quality management methods for health systems in developing countries. Emphasizes integrated district-level health systems management; fostering a genuine team approach in the face of an authoritarian tradition; central importance of community governance; interventions performed according to standards and in an equitable fashion; introducing a measurement-based approach to problem solving, emphasizing analysis of service delivery process and outcome; and developing operational research as an integral component of the management system.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the principles, concepts and methods for developing quality initiatives and explain how these can be used to improve essential public health services
2. Define quality from the perspective of all stakeholders, particularly in diverse populations
3. Explain how quality assurance principles can identify health barriers and how findings can be utilized to build equity in access and improve population health
4. Discuss how quality assurance re-design tools can lead to behavioral changes in populations as a result of improved health programming
5. Measure a performance gap and conduct a gap analysis to determine the root cause
6. Apply team-based problem-solving methods to address poor performance of public health services
7. Assess the costs of poor quality and of quality improvement
8. Develop performance monitoring systems and indicators to manage healthcare performance

Methods of Assessment:

This course is evaluated as follows:

• 40% Assignments
• 50% Project(s)
• 10% Participation

Instructor Consent:

No consent required