Course Description: 

Measuring and improving quality and safety in health care are major public health policy issues. This course is concerned with the conceptualization and measurement of quality of care in a variety of health care settings. The course begins with a discussion of the current quality crisis in the U.S. healthcare system, and focuses on systems for defining, measuring, and improving quality. Special emphasis is placed on the measurement of care outcomes, imcluding approaches to data collection and risk adjustment. Drawing on a cadre of guest speakers who are actively engaged in quality improvement, the course then exaqmines how this conceptual framework is applied in a variety of settings and public programs, imcluding hospitals, office based practice, managed care organizations, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and employment based health insurance. Written assisngments further help class participants gain practical experience in applying the material to real life quality improvement issues.