In this course, you will have the opportunity to learn about the great progress that has been made in measuring and evaluating quality of care. We will discuss key concepts and methods. You will also learn about how to use websites for comparing the quality of healthcare providers. The course content is intended for a wide range of participants – for example, people who have a general interest in quality of care, consumers seeking information about how to choose a provider for themselves or family members, or leaders of business organizations who are responsible for employee health insurance benefits and network of providers.
By the end of this course, the learner should be able to:
1. Explain key developments regarding how quality of care is measured and evaluated in the US.
2. Articulate basic framework for evaluating quality of outcomes of care including types of and criteria for selecting quality measures for evaluating and comparing providers.
3. Discuss scientific issues and challenges for evaluating quality of care and methods for addressing these challenges.
4. Identify and apply resources and tools for comparing the quality of care of providers.
This course is part of the Healthcare Trends for Business Professionals Specialization
Evaluating the Quality of Healthcare Delivery
Offered By
About this Course
What you will learn
Explain key developments regarding how quality of care is measured and evaluated in the US.
Discuss scientific issues and challenges for evaluating quality of care and methods for addressing these challenges.
Identify and apply resources and tools for comparing the quality of care of providers.
Articulate basic framework for evaluating quality of outcomes of care for evaluating and comparing providers.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Foundational Concepts for Evaluating Quality
We will begin by briefly discussing key developments in the U.S. and elsewhere underlying changing
perspectives toward the way quality of care is defined and evaluated. We will then outline and discuss a basic conceptual framework for selecting measures for evaluating the quality of care by hospitals and physicians. This discussion will draw attention to key distinctions between process and outcome measures and their relative advantages and disadvantages for evaluating quality of care. This module will also include examples of quality measures that are currently in use.
10 videos (Total 38 min), 2 quizzes
10 videos
Introduction to Module 11m
Key Developments in the Measurement and Evaluation of Quality of Care4m
Defining and Conceptualizing Quality of Care5m
Framework for Measuring Quality of Care4m
Data Sources for Measuring Quality of Care - Technical2m
Data Sources for Measuring Quality of Care - Interpersonal4m
Selection Criteria for Quality of Care Measures4m
Reliability and Validity4m
Process vs. Outcome Measures4m
2 practice exercises
Check Your Knowledge20m
Week 1 Quiz (Graded)30m
Week
22 hours to complete
Scientific Issues and Challenges for Comparing Quality of Care Among Providers
We will discuss key challenges in making valid comparisons among healthcare providers in terms of their quality of care including case mix differences, small sample sizes and data integrity issues. We will discuss methods and techniques for addressing such challenges. We will show how these methods and techniques can be applied in practice to produce more useful quality of care evaluations.
7 videos (Total 30 min), 2 quizzes
7 videos
Goals for Comparing Providers' Quality of Care3m
Key Challenges to Comparing Providers' Quality of Care4m
Measurement Error3m
Risk Adjustment6m
Basic Procedures for Statistical Models5m
Small Patient Samples5m
2 practice exercises
Check Your Knowledge20m
Week 2 Quiz (Graded)30m
Week
33 hours to complete
Resources and Tools for Evaluating Quality
We will cover consumer report cards and value-based purchasing programs, both of which constitute
important applications of the science of measuring and evaluating quality of care. Consumer report
cards on quality of care frequently exist within publicly available websites. These websites provide
consumers and other interested parties with quality-related information for comparing the performance of hospitals and physicians. Such resources and tools have been produced by government agencies, private health plans, and business organizations. We will look at several examples of these resources and tools and consider their value as well as their limitations.
6 videos (Total 24 min), 2 quizzes
6 videos
Purpose of Consumer Report Cards4m
Examples of Consumer Report Cards (Websites)4m
Design Issues4m
Pay-for-Performance6m
Unintended Consequences of Performance Measurement3m
1 practice exercise
Check Your Knowledge24m
Week
43 hours to complete
Future Directions in Evaluating Quality of Care
We will discuss emerging developments pertaining to the science and practice of evaluating quality of
care. This discussion will include the increased interest in value-oriented measures of provider performance (i.e., efficiency as well as quality) and in composite measures. Also, we will consider the debate over whether quality measures should be adjusted to account for differences among providers
regarding the socio-economic characteristics of their patients and how such adjustments could be
conducted.
4 videos (Total 17 min), 2 quizzes
4 videos
Composite Measures7m
Influence of Patient Socio-Economic Characteristics4m
Concerns about the Widespread Use of Quality of Care Measures3m
1 practice exercise
Check Your Knowledge20m
Instructor
Gary Young
Professor, Director, Northeastern University Center for Health Policy and Healthcare ResearchD'Amore-McKim School of Business
About Northeastern University
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. The spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability.
About the Healthcare Trends for Business Professionals Specialization
This Specialization will provide learners with the knowledge and skills to recognize key shifts in the industry and to have an agile perspective on how these shifts might impact their organizations. Learners will be exposed to the key drivers in the global healthcare industry today so they might apply what they have learned to help their organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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