Online Master’s in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Programs
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“This degree goes deep on giving folks very tangible skills around improving quality of care, which is a major issue in health systems for a number of reasons.”
Dr. Allyson Hall, PhD, MBA, Program Director for Graduate Programs in Healthcare Quality and Safety, University of Alabama at Birmingham
For those who have worked in healthcare or are considering advancing into management, the skills and knowledge gained from a patient safety and healthcare quality program can be beneficial.
“Given the recent ‘only pay for quality performance’ outcome measures, the demand for safety science and quality training will continue to grow for the next decade,” according to Dr. Anne Gunderson, the associate dean for clinical education innovation at Georgetown University Medical Center. She refers to recent shifts by health policymakers away from the traditional United States fee-for-service model. That model doesn’t hold healthcare providers accountable for quality or efficiency but pays them based on the quantity and complexity of their services. In other words, a financial incentive to deliver as many services as possible, irrespective of costs or health outcomes, influences providers.
Concerned over massive healthcare expenditures and relatively low care quality relative to other nations, policymakers have started shifting towards alternative payment models that encourage higher quality at lower costs. For example, the Affordable Care Act expands pay-for-performance programs in Medicare and encourages experimentation to evaluate effectiveness. Also, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2015 started driving aggressively toward what many now call “value-based” or “quality-based” reimbursement. Rather than continuing to reward volume over care quality, CMS announced that by the end of 2018, 50 percent of fee-for-service Medicare payments would become value-based. In addition, the Healthcare Transformation Task Force, a recently formed alliance of provider groups and insurers, including Blue Cross and Aetna, committed to shifting 75 percent of their contracts into value-based payment arrangements.
This sudden pressure to improve care quality is creating rapid growth in this new field, driving a particular demand for leaders with advanced knowledge and expertise in patient quality and safety systems. George Washington University cites job board listings from the National Association for Healthcare Quality. It includes titles such as:
- Clinical director, quality services
- Clinical nurse auditor
- Compliance auditor analyst
- Director of quality management
- Healthcare manager
- Healthcare quality analyst
- Quality and safety specialist
- Quality assurance consultant
- Quality improvement nurse
Innovative healthcare quality and safety programs offering predominantly online curricula like those in the following profiles can offer students significant flexibility. That’s because recent instructional technology advances now provide an online educational experience equivalent to instruction on campus, yet unconstrained by distance or time. As a result, these online quality and safety programs offer opportunities to students who cannot leave jobs to attend classes on campus or who wish to attend better out-of-state universities without the expense and hassle of relocation. Plus, personalized online education provides an attractive alternative for students who want to learn at their own pace; motivated and gifted students, in particular, can thrive at the accelerated pace made possible by these online programs.
Online programs also save students money. Even when tuition rates are identical, online programs can present more cost-effective alternatives to on-campus programs because of savings on costs like relocation, childcare, and transportation.
The following guide presents profiles of nine master’s in patient safety and healthcare quality degree programs offered online, seven provided entirely online, with two programs requiring brief campus visits. They include seven specialized healthcare quality and safety master’s degree programs and two closely related programs: one in nursing and an MBA program.
Meet the Expert: Allyson Hall, PhD, MBA
Dr. Allyson Hall is a distinguished professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, holding various appointments across the School of Health Professions, School of Public Health, School of Nursing, and School of Medicine. She serves as the program director for graduate programs in healthcare quality and safety while co-directing UAB’s Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education.
Dr. Hall’s research focuses on healthcare access for vulnerable populations, with a recent emphasis on care transition improvement and Covid-19-related projects. She holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and dual MHA and MBA degrees from the University of Florida.
MHAOnline.com: What is something you wish the public understood about master’s in patient safety and healthcare quality degrees?
Dr. Hall: Healthcare quality and patient safety degrees are distinct from a master’s of health administration. The focus of this degree program is on giving people specific skills to engage in quality improvement activities within a healthcare institution. When you think about healthcare and leadership, you need a bunch of competencies such as finance, marketing, and strategy.
Instead, our focus is on how do you improve the quality of care? When you leave our program, you’ve have the applied skills to do just that. This degree goes deep on giving folks very tangible skills around improving quality of care, which is a major issue in health systems for a number of reasons.
The second thing I would say about our degree is it is very applied. Your capstone project is on something that is in your place of work. All our students have to be in the workplace because we want immediate application of their skills. It’s very hands-on and interactive, so you’ll be able to test your skills before you graduate.
MHAOnline.com: What advice would you give to aspiring master’s students in patient safety and healthcare quality?
Dr. Hall: First, reach out to the program manager to learn more about the degree. We spend a lot of time talking to students and letting them know what to expect.
Second, within your own place of work, have a conversation with the quality improvement leadership to find out what skills and competencies you’d need if you want to develop as a quality improvement professional. Then go to the prospective program website and see if it aligns with what you’re hearing is needed in your place of work.
Featured Online Master’s in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Programs
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions is renowned for its master’s program in healthcare quality and safety (MSHQS). Their curriculum offers students practical knowledge to apply in real-time to enhance quality and patient safety.
In addition, UAB has teamed up with the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) to provide greater accessibility to master’s degree seekers who already have the Certificate Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ). This partnership creates an immersive learning experience reflecting the realities of the healthcare industry so they can readily put new skills into practice. Furthermore, learners build meaningful connections with their peers and UAB’s esteemed faculty throughout their master’s program. A dual degree combining an MSHQS with an executive master of science in health administration (MSHA) is also available.
UAB requires candidates to have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours. The school also requires at least five years of relevant experience in healthcare but no GMAT or GRE scores.
- Location: Birmingham, AL
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
George Mason University offers an online MHA program in health systems management with a concentration in healthcare quality. One weeklong residency is required.
Core courses include leadership in the healthcare system and include an orientation; organizational behavior and healthcare leadership; introduction to the U.S. health system; introduction to health information systems; health economics; human resource management in healthcare; and legal issues in health administration.
The concentration courses include the healthcare quality environment, liability in healthcare quality and patient safety, contemporary issues in health systems management, health policy leadership, and strategic management and marketing in healthcare.
- Location: Fairfax, VA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Grand Canyon University offers an online master of science in nursing program with a concentration in in healthcare quality and patient safety, designed for licensed registered nurses. This program has core courses such as introduction to advanced registered nursing; translational research and population health management; organizational leadership and informatics; and evidence-based practice projects.
The program’s concentration includes 150 practicum hours and courses such as performance improvement and quality in healthcare; foundations of quality improvement and patient safety; project management in healthcare; implementation and change management; and quality improvement and patient safety practicum.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Students interested in studying healthcare quality at a master’s level will find their ideal program with George Washington University’s (GWU) master’s of science in health sciences (MSHS) or an 18-credit graduate certificate in health sciences in healthcare quality. Both programs are entirely online and build on an interdisciplinary and practice-based curriculum, preparing graduates for a leadership role in quality-based healthcare.
The online master’s program in health sciences (MSHS) in healthcare quality provides a unique opportunity for aspiring healthcare professionals. Focusing on quality-based care, the program helps students become patient safety and quality leaders, equipping them to pursue roles contributing to improving this ever-evolving field. A comprehensive academic experience, this master’s program prepares future leaders in healthcare quality, patient safety, and research. With a core curriculum that incorporates essential topics such as developments in the U.S. healthcare system and continuous quality improvement, graduates of this master’s program leave school equipped to create change positively within their practice and field.
The school touts rigorous academics, an expert practitioner faculty, and extensive networking opportunities as advantages over competing programs. This program requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and previous healthcare experience. The U.S. News and World Report also ranks the university #22 in the best nursing programs.
- Location: Washington, DC
- Duration: 21 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
A joint effort among four of Johns Hopkins’ top-ranked schools developed this part-time, 100 percent online patient safety and healthcare quality (PSHQ) master’s program. Those schools include the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.
The program combines coursework from Hopkins’ top schools with Armstrong’s pioneering patient safety advances to educate students on mechanisms and protocols that improve outcomes and reduce preventable harm. The curriculum focuses on preventing patient harm by designing safer systems and measuring safety and quality. Introductory topics include public health, quality of care for practitioners, and patient safety science. Students must also complete two epidemiology courses and three quality and safety courses involving case studies, measurement, and evaluation.
With 20 years of experience and 150 online courses currently available, the Hopkins team prides itself as the industry leader in online education. As PSHQ Program Director Dr. Albert Wu explained in this a Virtual Open House video, the group claims to offer engaging course content well beyond “just PowerPoint slides.”
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with evidence of strong academic performance and at least three years of healthcare industry experience but no GMAT or GRE scores.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Two to four years
- Accreditation: Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
During the online master of science in patient safety leadership program at UIC, students develop strategies for proposing and implementing process improvements within healthcare organizations. They then review historical approaches to patient safety and quality care and discover newer strategies for quality improvement and risk reduction, including information systems applications. Additionally, they learn principles to improve communications, resolve conflict, and train teams.
The university designed the CAHME-certified program for working professionals in patient safety and quality healthcare delivery, both clinical and non-clinical. The program requires an undergraduate degree, with graduate work preferred, and a 2.75 cumulative GPA at both levels. No entrance examinations are necessary.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Georgetown University offers two comprehensive graduate-level programs for healthcare professionals to master the art of improving patient experience. Their executive master’s program in clinical quality, safety, and leadership is an online program with a three-day on-site in Washington, DC. It focuses on providing students with competency-based healthcare quality content and allows them to take the Certified Professional Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certificate examination, allowing certified students to acquire the gold standard for healthcare quality.
This master’s program prepares healthcare professionals to transition from existing care delivery models to a reliable care organization focused on safety, quality, and value. A fully online 12-credit two-semester executive certificate in patient safety and quality or healthcare safety and leadership is also available.
- Location: Washington, DC
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)
Drexel’s online master of science in quality, safety, and risk management in healthcare program prepares graduates to lead efforts that improve and monitor quality metrics, enhance patient and staff safety, and manage risks in a dynamic environment. This interdisciplinary program is intended for healthcare professionals seeking to develop capabilities to assess, monitor, and improve outcomes in hospitals and other healthcare organizations.
The program requires virtual simulation experiences or short on-campus experiences in simulation labs in Philadelphia. This program is certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
The school requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and recommends a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Specific clinical work or volunteer experience is not required but may make applications more competitive.
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers a master’s program in nursing in patient safety and quality. The curriculum consists of topics related to clinical safety and quality, so those with experience or interest in this field could benefit from this master’s degree. In addition, this master’s program has the potential to propel healthcare professionals into the role of championing quality and safety. Students can leverage 135 clinical practicum hours through this track to gain hands-on experience and competently implement their knowledge.
Applicants should possess a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited BSN program and an active RN license. SNHU also provides tuition discounts of up to 30 percent for veterans, making it an excellent option for those looking to further their nursing career at a lower cost than many other master’s programs.
- Location: Manchester NH
- Duration: 15 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Sam Houston State designed its online executive master of science in healthcare quality and safety program to prepare busy healthcare professionals for leadership roles in the quality and safety areas in healthcare organizations like hospitals and clinics. The program operates in a 16-month cohort model, with a new cohort starting each fall semester. In addition, students can select either a thesis or non-thesis option.
The admissions office prefers applicants with healthcare work experience in clinical or non-clinical settings. Like many, this school requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Furthermore, the university requires letters of recommendation, two writing samples, plus an on-campus or video interview. The school does not accept international applicants.
- Location: Huntsville, TX
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Admission Requirements: Online Master’s in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Programs
From the programs above, here are typical, standard application requirements to earn admission to these online masters in patient safety and healthcare quality programs:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Competitive GPAs from undergraduate universities (most require at least a 3.0)
- Professional experience with a healthcare organization
- Some schools ask for GMAT or GRE scores but often waive testing for students meeting each school’s specific requirements
- A personal statement of objectives
- Letters of recommendation
- International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores
