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ForwardThe ACS Quality Improvement Course: The Basics
The ACS Quality Improvement Course: The Basics is designed to ensure the surgical workforce and other quality improvement staff are well-educated on the basic principles of surgical quality and safety.
The course includes six modules:
Introduction to Quality Improvement: Quality improvement concepts and the rationale for investing in quality
The Quality Improvement Process: How quality improvement happens and how to begin a quality improvement project
Data Measurement and Analysis: How data is used throughout a quality improvement project and some of the fundamental tools that can help to display and analyze data
Change Management: How change happens and the factors that affect the change process, and how implementation science can be used throughout a quality improvement project
Patient Safety: The role of culture in maintaining and improving patient safety, the characteristics of high-reliability organizations, and how to evaluate and improve your institution’s safety culture
Leadership and Teamwork for QI: What defines effective leadership and teamwork and how to develop and evaluate teamwork and leadership skills.
Attendees of the course will receive a Certificate of Completion upon passing a two-hour exam based on the objectives of the course. This course also offers CME and CNE credit. In order to receive CME or CNE credit, you must both complete the course and pass the exam with a 70 percent or higher. The course qualifies for 20 hours of CME or CNE credit.
Target Audience
The ACS Quality Improvement Course: The Basics is intended for anyone working in a health care setting who is still learning the foundations of quality improvement, regardless of their role. The content is applicable across settings and cultural contexts.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
Explain the function of quality improvement projects within healthcare
Describe the quality improvement process
Identify and analyze data necessary for quality improvement projects
Apply essential QI tools based on applicable use cases
Implement QI projects and changes based on the results of those projects
Develop strategies to ensure that changes are effective and do not adversely affect patient safety
Promote a quality improvement culture in their workplace
Identify strategies to overcome barriers to effective QI
References
In line with the ACCME’s requirement to provide references to learners for this type of educational activity, please note that references can be found in each module.
Contact
If you have any questions about this activity, please contact acsqualitycourse@facs.org.
For technical assistance, please contact learning@facs.org.
Disclosure Information
In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf all other authors/contributors, if applicable.
Ineligible Company
The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
Financial Relationships
Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Conflict of Interest
Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.
The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.
Planning Committee and Disclosures
Dr. Lillian Kao, M.D. - Nothing to disclose
Dr. Clifford Ko, M.D. - Nothing to disclose
Colleen Fleming - Nothing to disclose
Emily Hoffmann - Nothing to disclose
Continuing Medical Education Credit Information
Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
The American College of Surgeons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the American College of Surgeons, California Board of Registered Nursing Provider #CEP17134.
Available Credit
- 20.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 20.00 CE Contact hours
- 20.00 Certificate of Completion
To register, start by clicking the "Add to cart" button. Then, click on the shopping cart in the upper-right corner of the page and complete the checkout process to purchase the course. If you do not already have a user account, you will need to create one prior to registering. Once the course has been purchased, the button above will be replaced with the "Take course" button.
Price: $249
Hardware/Software Requirements
Compatible Browsers
- Windows: Microsoft Edge (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version), Firefox (latest version)
- Mac: Safari (latest version), Google Chrome (latest version), Firefox (latest version)
Required Browser Settings
- Javascript: JavaScript must be enabled for published courses to work.
- Font Downloads: Font downloads must be enabled to see the correct fonts and characters.
Additional Software
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Microsoft Office® Excel and Word