Evaluating the Quality of Healthcare Delivery from Coursera

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

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.

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.

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.

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.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Equips learners with foundational knowledge about evaluating the quality of healthcare

Provides a framework for selecting quality measures to evaluate healthcare providers

Delineates scientific challenges in comparing quality of care and offers methods to address them

Introduces tools and resources for evaluating quality of care, empowering learners to make informed decisions

Covers consumer report cards and value-based purchasing programs, providing practical applications of healthcare quality evaluation

Discusses emerging trends in evaluating quality of care, including value-oriented measures and composite measures

Reviews summary

Praised healthcare quality course

Learners say this course is excellent and recommend it to others. This is especially due to the knowledge it provides on patient safety and quality data.

The course provides quality data analysis skills.

"quality data on comparing concepts"

Learners valued the patient safety information.

"in patient safety"

Students would recommend this course to others.

"I recommend."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Evaluating the Quality of Healthcare Delivery with these activities:

Review notes and materials from previous courses related to healthcare quality

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Refresh your knowledge on healthcare quality before starting the course.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify relevant notes and materials
Review the notes and materials

Read and summarize an article on the evolution of healthcare quality measures

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Provide context for the course by reviewing the historical development of healthcare quality measures.

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Identify a key reference source
Read and summarize the article

Create a collection of resources on evaluating healthcare quality

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Organize and expand on course materials to enhance learning.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify and gather relevant resources on evaluating healthcare quality
Organize the resources into a collection

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Evaluate the quality of care provided by a fictional hospital using publicly available data

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Reinforce the methods for evaluating healthcare quality by applying them to a real-world scenario.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify a publicly available healthcare dataset
Select appropriate quality measures
Calculate and interpret the measures
Summarize the findings

Participate in a discussion forum and answer questions from other learners

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Reinforce your understanding by helping others learn.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify a discussion forum related to healthcare quality
Participate in the discussion forum and answer questions from other learners

Follow a tutorial on how to use a health insurance provider comparison tool

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Develop practical skills for comparing healthcare providers.

Browse courses on Health Insurance

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Identify a reputable health insurance provider comparison tool
Follow the tutorial on how to use the tool
Compare different health insurance providers using the tool

Attend a local healthcare conference or webinar

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Expand your knowledge and network with healthcare professionals.

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Identify a local healthcare conference or webinar
Attend the conference or webinar

Write a blog post or article summarizing the key concepts of the course

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Deepen understanding of the course material by explaining it to others.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify the key concepts to summarize
Conduct additional research to supplement your knowledge
Write the blog post or article

Develop a presentation on the challenges of evaluating healthcare quality

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Demonstrate your understanding by creating a presentation that addresses a complex topic.

Browse courses on Quality of Care

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Identify the challenges of evaluating healthcare quality
Develop a presentation that addresses these challenges
Present the presentation to a group

Career center

Learners who complete Evaluating the Quality of Healthcare Delivery will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Policy Analyst

A Health Policy Analyst applies research and data to drive policy decisions within the healthcare industry. Completing this course aids in understanding the complex landscape of healthcare quality evaluation, providing a solid foundation for analyzing and developing policies that aim to improve patient outcomes. The course's focus on scientific methodologies and challenges in evaluating quality of care directly aligns with the responsibilities of a Health Policy Analyst responsible for developing data-driven policy recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst

Healthcare Consultant

As a Healthcare Consultant specializing in quality improvement, you will guide healthcare organizations in enhancing the quality and efficiency of their services. This course provides valuable insights into the frameworks and methodologies used to measure and evaluate healthcare quality. By learning about key quality measures, scientific challenges, and resources for evaluating providers, you can effectively assist organizations in identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to deliver better patient outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Consultant

Medical Director

Medical Directors oversee the medical operations and quality of care within healthcare organizations. This course empowers you with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare quality evaluation. You will gain knowledge of quality measures, scientific challenges, and tools for comparing providers, enabling you to make informed decisions and lead your team in delivering exceptional patient care. The course's focus on value-oriented measures and emerging trends in healthcare quality aligns with the responsibilities of a Medical Director.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Director

Quality Assurance Manager

In the role of a Quality Assurance Manager, you are responsible for developing and implementing quality assurance programs within healthcare organizations. This course provides a solid foundation for understanding healthcare quality evaluation, scientific challenges, and resources for assessing provider performance. By learning about quality measurement frameworks, data integrity issues, and methods for addressing them, you can effectively manage quality assurance programs and contribute to continuous improvement in patient care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Data Analyst

As a Data Analyst specializing in healthcare, you will play a crucial role in analyzing and interpreting data to improve patient outcomes. This course provides a strong foundation in healthcare quality evaluation, including the use of quality measures, statistical methods, and data integrity assessment. By gaining expertise in these areas, you can effectively analyze healthcare data, identify trends, and support decision-making to enhance the quality of care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators oversee the operations and management of healthcare organizations. This course provides valuable insights into healthcare quality evaluation, enabling you to make informed decisions and lead your team in delivering exceptional patient care. By understanding quality measures, scientific challenges, and resources for comparing providers, you can effectively manage healthcare organizations and contribute to improvements in patient outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Administrator

Clinical Research Associate

As a Clinical Research Associate, you will be involved in designing, conducting, and analyzing clinical trials. This course lays the groundwork for understanding healthcare quality evaluation, providing you with a foundation for assessing the quality and effectiveness of healthcare interventions. By learning about quality measures, data integrity issues, and statistical methods, you can contribute to the development of safe and effective treatments and therapies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Clinical Research Associate

Healthcare Policy Advisor

Healthcare Policy Advisors provide expertise and guidance on healthcare policy development. This course complements your knowledge by providing a comprehensive understanding of healthcare quality evaluation. By gaining insights into quality measures, scientific challenges, and resources for assessing providers, you can effectively analyze and shape healthcare policies that aim to improve patient outcomes and the overall quality of care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Policy Advisor

Patient Advocate

Patient Advocates represent and support patients in navigating the healthcare system. This course equips you with knowledge of healthcare quality evaluation, enabling you to effectively assess the quality of care provided to patients. By understanding quality measures, data integrity issues, and resources for comparing providers, you can advocate for patients' rights and ensure they receive the best possible care.

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Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals and families facing social and emotional challenges. This course may be useful for Social Workers specializing in healthcare, as it provides insights into healthcare quality evaluation and resources for assessing provider performance. By understanding quality measures and data integrity issues, you can better advocate for your clients and connect them with appropriate healthcare services.

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Healthcare Journalist

Healthcare Journalists report on healthcare-related news and issues. This course may be useful for Healthcare Journalists, as it provides a foundation for understanding healthcare quality evaluation and assessing the quality of care provided by different providers. By learning about quality measures and scientific challenges, you can effectively communicate complex healthcare information to the public and raise awareness about quality of care issues.

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Healthcare Executive

Healthcare Executives lead and manage healthcare organizations. This course may be useful for Healthcare Executives responsible for quality improvement initiatives, as it provides insights into healthcare quality evaluation and resources for assessing provider performance. By understanding quality measures and data integrity issues, you can effectively set quality goals and implement strategies to enhance patient care within your organization.

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Public Health Specialist

Public Health Specialists focus on improving the health of communities. This course may be useful for Public Health Specialists working in healthcare quality improvement, as it provides a foundation for understanding healthcare quality evaluation and resources for assessing provider performance. By learning about quality measures and scientific challenges, you can contribute to population health initiatives and advocate for policies that promote better healthcare outcomes.

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Market Researcher

Market Researchers conduct research to understand consumer trends and preferences. This course may be useful for Market Researchers specializing in healthcare, as it provides insights into healthcare quality evaluation and resources for assessing provider performance. By understanding quality measures and data integrity issues, you can effectively conduct market research to inform healthcare providers and stakeholders about patient preferences and satisfaction.

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Health Educator

Health Educators promote health and wellness within communities. This course may be useful for Health Educators specializing in healthcare quality improvement, as it provides a foundation for understanding healthcare quality evaluation and resources for assessing provider performance. By learning about quality measures and scientific challenges, you can effectively develop and deliver educational programs that empower individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Educator