96326 Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 92022 Improving Quality and Safety in Health Care
Description
This subject covers the essential knowledge that clinicians, health service managers and project officers need, concerning error management and safety and quality improvement. It enables students to appreciate why errors occur in healthcare delivery, and the contemporary approaches to reducing errors and improving the safety and quality of health services. Personal and interpersonal skills in open disclosure are also addressed, as well as complaint management, and the importance of patient and family engagement. International approaches to safety and quality in healthcare delivery are also discussed. An emphasis is placed on error reduction and meeting national standards within health services settings.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Critically appraise contemporary legal, ethical, regulatory and professional frameworks and strategies designed to maintain or improve patient safety within the healthcare environment; |
|---|---|
| B. | Propose improvements in safety at an international, national, state and local level through error analysis, risk management and error reduction techniques; |
| C. | Determine relevant and contemporary techniques and tools for analysing, reporting and managing error in healthcare delivery; |
| D. | Create a variety of ways in which complex issues can be effectively communicated for a variety of target audiences. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Are reflective, critical thinkers who influence practice, policy and research to achieve clinical excellence and transform healthcare services (1.0)
- Propose relevant problem-solving and human factors theories to the analysis of common issues inherent in the management and evaluation of healthcare services (1.2)
- Communicate effectively and appropriately in challenging, complex and diverse situations (4.0)
- Value and choose highly effective and sensitive communication with diverse populations to enable positive and sustainable change in healthcare practice, policy and research (4.1)
- Determine and recommend modes of communication necessary to optimise outcomes across differing audiences, purposes and contexts within healthcare practice (4.2)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is designed to assist students to understand the complexities associated with improving safety and quality in the multidisciplinary health service environment. Even minor positive changes in one section of the system can potentially have a major negative effect in other sections, so approaches to improving safety and quality need to look at the entire health and/or social care systems.
This subject is taught using a variety of teaching and learning strategies. The strategies used emphasise active and applied approaches to developing students’ ability to understand health service management, and apply this knowledge to generate effective, practical solutions to health system challenges. Understanding and critical thinking skills will be encouraged via a range of activities, including but not limited to:
- Thought provoking videos, readings, podcasts and other activities to stimulate thinking, promote understanding and support analysis and evaluation
- Problem solving and critical thinking activities via a range of self-directed learning opportunities.
- Learning that is supported by real world examples, case studies, illustrations and data.
- Opportunities for students to reflect on, explain and record their input under advice and guidance
Assessment Range
Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a variety of assessments. Formative and summative feedback will be provided throughout the subject.
Content (topics)
- Clinical governance
- National approach to improving safety and quality
- Error and human factors analysis
- Influence of organisational culture on patient safety
- Cultural safety
- Incident disclosure
- Tools for improving safety and quality
- Resilience in health services
- Accreditation - process and operational views
- International, national, state and local approaches to data collection and reporting
- Incident management systems
- International approaches to safety and quality
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Safety and Quality Improvement Quiz
| Intent: | This early assessment item focuses on an understanding of key safety and quality improvement concepts within healthcare, that are introduced in weeks 1 and 2. Students will be invited to test their understanding of these concepts, which will be explored more deeply in Weeks 3 to 6 of this subject. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.2 and 4.2 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 45 minute online quiz |
| Criteria: | 100% demonstrates an understanding of contemporary safety and quality improvement frameworks, concepts, strategies, and challenges in healthcare. |
Assessment task 2: Complaints Management
| Intent: | This assessment item focuses on complaints management with a systems approach to safety and quality. Patients and familes often raise safety and quality concerns, and health service managers must respond in a professional, compassionate and respectful manner, that meets the needs of the patient and families, and contributes to improving the safety and quality of the service. This task will provide students an opportunity apply their knowledge regarding complaints handling, consumer engagement, incident management, and a systems approach to safety. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2 and 4.1 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1500 words (formal letter style) |
| Criteria: |
|
Assessment task 3: Organisation of Safety and Quality Improvement Seminars
| Intent: | This assessment item focuses on effectively communicating the relevance and importance of contemporary safety and quality improvement research, to the day-to-day practices of health and social care workers. A particular focus here is on applying safety and quality improvement concepts taught in this subject, to improving the cultural safety for Indigenous Australians, as professional colleagues and consumers of health and social care services. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2 and 4.0 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: |
|
| Criteria: |
|
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve Your Academic and English Language Skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.
The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.