Quality in Public Health, Unit A

​​​​​​​Unit A: Defining Quality and the Quality Continuum

This module provides a description of key characteristics of quality, quality assurance, and quality improvement.  Explore different approaches (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) that can be used in public health to improve quality and walk through examples that apply the concepts and tools.​

Learning Objectives

• Describe characteristics of quality, including consistency, timeliness, stakeholder expectations, and technical specifications
• Compare Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) and Quality Improvement
• Explore methods and approaches to improve quality, including the PDSA Cycle, Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, and theories of Organizational Effectiveness
• Consider how quality methods may be applied in public health
• Describe the quality continuum, the performance management cycle, and open feedback systems​

​Materials
Watch/Listen

1. Defining Quality – Anita Farel, DrPH, MSW, 2015. (~20 minutes)
   ​View Lecture | Transcript
2. The Quality Continuum – Anita Farel, DrPH, MSW, 2015. (~15 minutes)
   View Lecture | Transcript
3. Tackling a National Embarrassment, NICHQ CoIIN, January 2015. (~8 minutes)
4. The Domestic Lean Goddess – Getting the Kids to School on Time (PDSA Cycle), Quality Improvement Organization Program (QIO), 2013​.​ (~6 minutes)

​​​​Read

1. Honore PA, Wright D, Berwick DM, Clancy CM, Lee P, Nowinski J, Koh HK. 2011. Creating a framework for getting quality into the public health system. Health Affairs 30(4):737–745.
2. Quality Improvement in Public Health: It Works! American Public Health Association.
3. ​Roadmap to a Culture of Quality Improvement, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 2012.

​​​Browse

1. Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Networks (CoIINs)​
2. NICHQ, CoIIN​

Complete Module (pg.15-18)
Applied Methods for Health Transformation Implementation in Maternal and Child Health FINAL.pdf