Process Improvement in Health Systems

Internationally, many healthcare organisations are successfully using process and quality improvement methodologies to streamline processes, reduce cost, and most importantly improve the quality, experience of, and timely delivery of services to patients. When applied rigorously and throughout an entire healthcare organisation, improvement methodologies can have a positive impact on patients, their relatives, and staff. Although many improvement methodologies were developed in industry, health care is, in fact, a service industry, delivering care in extraordinarily complex organisations, with thousands of interacting processes. Many aspects of improvement methodologies, therefore, can and do apply to the processes of delivering care. Graduates of this programme have applied their learning successfully to improve experiences and outcomes for staff and patients in areas as diverse as Stroke Thrombolysis, Stroke Therapy, Patient Scheduling, Procurement, Data coding, ward, and unit design, Rehabilitation, Hip Fracture Pathways, Pharmacy, Pathology, Radiology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oncology, and Community Health.

The programme is currently delivered via blended learning.

- Half-day Graduate Orientation (Trimester 1) - Online via Zoom
- 9 days lecture attendance (Trimesters 1-3) - Online via Zoom
- Final Project presentation (duration 30 minutes) - Online via Zoom
- Time for self-directed learning, research, data analysis and Project development
- Mentor meetings - Online or in-person by agreement with mentor

Stage 1 - Core
Improving Process in HS NMHS32280
Managing Process Improvement - Theory and Principles NMHS43400
Implementing a Process Improvement Project NMHS43810

Healthcare Professionals should have completed the Professional Certificate Process Improvement in Health Systems or equivalent with UCD or another accredited provider to Level 8.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
RPL may be granted in respect of individual modules if applicants can demonstrate that the modules' learning outcomes have been achieved through prior credentialled or experiential learning. In some cases, where an applicant does not meet the prerequisites for entry to a programme, an RPL application may be considered.

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:
Grad Cert Process Improvement in Health Systems PT (X963)
Duration
1 Years
Attend
Part Time
Deadline
Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.

1 year part-time blended.