• Key characteristics of health care organizations identified and examined to understand how these factors influence optimizing performance and effectiveness.
• The rationale and methods for quality management (QM) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) process and the key factors involved in the organization of change are explored.
• Transforming organizational, hospital, clinical, operational and business processes using Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and learning strategies are examined, discussed and applied.
• Creating high performance project teams and building commitment to apply continuous quality improvement concepts, structures, methods and techniques are explained and demonstrated.
• The CQI process, content issues and tools of teamwork and work groups are explored including organizational culture, types of project teams and development, teamwork, problem solving, decision- making and "hands on" use of the proven management and fundamental tools.
• Finally, the course explores and demonstrates specific applications of sustained continuous improvement as we participate in leading and managing competitive and successful heath care organizations.

1. The ability to learn and apply knowledge faster and more effectively than other health care systems is your number one competitive advantage.
2. Leaders and managers achieve their goals and objectives through skillful application of system, process and critical thinking skills on a consistent basis.
3. Specifically, this course will describe methods and proven practices for organizing and implementing a focused, practical and cost effective process for improving and sustaining short and long term performance, financial stability and community well being.

1. Discuss the framework and fundamentals of organizational culture as the foundation for building and sustaining optimal quality and service performance.
2. Develop a long-term strategy for patient care quality, service, and performance improvement for a selected organization or scenario.
3. Identify and apply structures, processes and methods that can measurably improve individual, group performance, hospital or system effectiveness.
4. Apply a "hands on" approach in using problem solving techniques and process assessments, including data selection, data collection, and common techniques of data analysis, plus plan, develop and implement various continuous quality improvement competencies.

1. Transforming Healthcare Organizations: How to Achieve and Sustain Organizational Excellence, Ellen Marszalek-Gaucher and Richard J. Coffey, 1990, Jossey-Bass Inc., San Francisco, CA. 94104 ISBN #: 1555422500
2. Total Quality Management in Healthcare: Implementation Strategies For Optimum Results, D.H. Stamatis, 1996, Mcgraw-Hill, New York, N. Y. ISBN #: 0786309806
3. The Team Handbook: How to Use Teams to Improve Quality, Peter R. Scholtes, 1998, Oriel Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, 53705 ISBN #: 1884731112

1. Quality Management 2000: Preparing the Quality Improvement Professional for the Future, Deborah K. Hall 1997, Precept Press, Chicago, Il 60611 ISBN #: 0944496512

• Do you have a definite understanding of what you would like to achieve?
• Are you focused on the knowledge and energy needed that you have or can gain from others?
• Are you willing to keep searching even though challenges will present themselves?
• Do you believe that solutions to your questions and learning experience do exist and you will discover them?

1. Develop a foundation to "act locally, think strategically and systemically" working foundation to increase awareness and application of meaningful leadership practices for health care systems and personal growth.
2. Develop lasting continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategies and actions to build and sustain optimal performance through demonstrated applications of courses concepts.
3. Assess, analyze, diagnose, and successfully act within a rapidly changing health care environment and situations to create a more direct link between strategic mission and goals, processes, people, performance and the bottom line.
4. Develop a methodology for "best practice " leadership practices as critical success factors for continuous quality improvement.
5. Increase and enhance your personal skills as a hospital leader and manager.

1. Topics in the course schedule are generally related to a section in the text (s), assigned reading and notes.
2. Assignments will be posted by weeks and will be available each Sunday by 5:00 p.m. EDT and are do back to me for review and feedback via email by 3:00 p.m. EDT the following Saturday.
3. Submit all assignment content for a specific week together in one email.
4. Assignments more than two days overdue will not be accepted.
5. Progress checks (PC) will be scheduled every week.
6. Assignment responses must include in the email subject line: your name (last, first), course title and schedule code: Example- Jones, Mary, HCM-PC1 (FYI---HCM-PC1=------------- --------------- -Progress Check 1)
7. It is each participant's responsibility to send emails properly with or without attachments.

         Week # 	         Schedule                Assignments (Due Date/Time)

1. Summing all points earned
2. Applying the traditional 100%-point scale:

• 1 day late - highest possible score is 90% of total
• 2 days late - highest possible score is 70% of total
• No credit for assignments over 2 days late