PRHI Continues Work to Foster Understanding of Quality Improvement Strategies in Health Care

For the third year, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative's (PRHI's) Jennifer Condel, manager of Lean Healthcare Strategy, and Bruce Block, MD, PRHI health care quality consultant, taught the course "Health Care Quality" which is a part of the Master of Medical Management for Physicians Program offered through Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.

In the two four-week virtual cohorts, Dr. Block and Condel guided 27 physician leaders in developing techniques to lead quality improvement efforts, support staff involved in quality improvement efforts, and align quality improvement efforts with strategic goals and organizational development. The course teaches a Quality Improvement model and structure each week providing lean philosophy, content, activities, real-life examples, and weekly peer to peer Zoom sessions. During the Zoom sessions, physician peers shared their current challenges and discussed approaches to apply the teachings. For the completion of the course, students produce a final summary in written or video format about how they will apply what they learned in the course to their physician leadership work, and role in their organization to champion quality improvement and patient safety.