The above links will take you to the Center for the Health Professions site.

Core Learning for Improving Care - available in 2003

Developed by:	Linda Headrick, MD, MS Center for Healthcare Research and Policy MetroHealth Medical Center Case Western Reserve University
Format:	Nine web-based, self-study modules.

How Will Clinicians Benefit?

The 2001 Institute of Medicine Chasm report describes a large gap between evidence-based best practice and what we are able to achieve on a daily basis for our patients. Clinicians who complete the nine self-study learning modules will be able to analyze how care is delivered and generate hypotheses about how action and results are linked. They will be able to identify approaches to improve care; design a process to make and test changes; sustain successful results; and disseminate the information to others.

Curriculum Description

This curriculum provides a basic introduction to the core principles and methods for improving health care. It is designed to help clinicians answer questions such as, "How can I identify the reasons for unwanted variation in our patient outcomes?" Each module can be used independently; together the nine modules address all of the objectives listed below.

The module authors are experienced teachers who have converted successful learning materials developed for a variety of practice settings into self-study, web-based modules. Each module has been peer reviewed by an interdisciplinary editorial board of practicing clinicians, technical experts and internationally known practitioners and educators in health care improvement.

The web-based self-study material will be free of charge unless the learner desires continuing education credit. This is available at a modest cost through the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Program in Continuing Medical Education. Access to the modules is also available through a link with The Network's home page at www.futurehealth.edu/cnetwork.html.

Learning Objectives

Participants who successfully complete all of the modules will be able to:

1. describe the knowledge required for the continual improvement of health care;

2. analyze the process of care and generate ideas for improving current practice;

3. define the components of the Plan-Do-Study-Act process;

4. interpret data to identify variation in health care outcomes and determine if change has resulted in improved outcomes;

5. identify and apply approaches to improve teamwork and collaboration;

6. describe the impact of social contexts (local, regional, national, global) on efforts to improve health care;

7. describe the essential elements for improving patient safety;

8. plan a program to disseminate good practice.

Intended Audience

The primary audience for these materials is practicing clinicians who wish to learn about improving health care. Prior experience in improvement is not necessary. A secondary audience is health professions educators who wish to include these peer-reviewed, tested modules in their own teaching. The curriculum is available free of charge to anyone with Internet access.

Pilot Testing

Pilot testing is underway. The audience includes practicing clinicians (physicians and advanced practice nurses) from three different health systems. Criteria for evaluation include clarity, ease of use, applicability to clinical practice and time needed to complete the unit. The pilot clinicians also provide feedback about how well the modules, as a whole, provide an introduction to improving care. Feedback from the pilot testing will be incorporated into revisions of content and web design.

Resources Needed to Use This Curriculum

• Internet access with a standard web browser, such as Internet Explorer.
• An estimated 1-2 hours to work through each module.

Recommendation: While the modules are designed for self-study, it is recommended that groups of colleagues convene to discuss what they have learned and to identify potential applications to the local practice environment.

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