Disciplines: Respiratory Therapy
Hours: 2 Contact Hours
Author(s):
  • Sandra Cegielski, BS, RRT, RCP
  • Kevin T. Martin, BVE, RRT, RCP
Peer Reviewer(s): Traci Marin, PhD, MPH, RRT, RPGST
Item#: V7255
Contents: 1 Course Book (50 pages)

Continuous Quality Improvement: Methods and Tools, 2nd Edition
Price $19.95
Item # V7255
When available, the Online Course format is included with the hard copy, eBook, or audio book formats!

Release Date: April 18, 2016

Expiration Date: April 19, 2019

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is a philosophy that is implemented as an ongoing effort to continuously evaluate and improve a service, process, or product. The process creates an environment in which all members of a team work together to constantly improve quality that may result in incremental changes or abrupt, substantial changes. As patient advocates, recognizing CQI as an important tool to improve function has the potential to reduce wasted resources and improve the work environment for management and staff. CQI is a management philosophy that can be integrated into day-to-day functions at the bedside through a nonbureaucratic educate and support model, rather than a bureaucratic command and control model. This course offers an introduction to CQI components, benefits, and strategies for healthcare providers, from administrators to beside practitioners.

 

Course Objectives

  • Define continuous quality improvement and the goals of continuous quality improvement.
  • Describe the characteristics of continuous quality improvement in practice.
  • Identify components of continuous quality improvement processes and tools used to quantify outcomes.
  • Identify documentation practices for continuous quality improvement.
  • Identify useful concepts and strategies for continuous quality improvement.
  • Identify the current continuous quality improvement strategies in health care.
  • Discuss best practices in considering continuous quality improvement strategies.
  • Describe the benefits of the continuous quality improvement process.
     

 

Sandra Cegielski, BS, RRT, RCP, is the director of clinical education at Victor Valley College. She also serves as the veterans’ health education coordinator at Loma Linda Veterans Administration Medical Center. Sandra received her BS in business management at the University of Redlands and her AS in respiratory therapy at Victor Valley College.
 
Kevin T. Martin, BVE, RRT, RCP, was the founder of Respiratory Care Educational Consulting Services Inc., which has since merged with Western Schools.

 

Traci Marin, PhD, MPH, RRT, RPGST, is an assistant research professor, program director, and professor for the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Schools of Allied Health and Medicine, at Loma Linda University. She is also an adjunct researcher and advisor in the Department of Medicine at Dr. John Shyy’s laboratory at the University of California, San Diego, as well as the founder of Tranquility Community Health. Dr. Marin received a PhD from the University of California, Riverside, in biochemistry and molecular biology; an MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics from Loma Linda University; a bachelor’s degree in emergency medical care from Loma Linda University; and an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy from Victor Valley College. Dr. Marin also serves as a Western Schools respiratory therapy planner.

  • Contact hours will be awarded for up to one (1) year from the date the course is ordered, unless otherwise indicated with an expiration date.
  • You must score 75% or higher on the final exam and complete the course evaluation to pass this course and receive a certificate of completion.
  • Through our review processes, Western Schools ensures that this course content is presented in a balanced, unbiased manner and is free from commercial influence. It is Western Schools’ policy not to accept commercial support.
  • All persons involved in the planning and development of this course have disclosed no relevant financial relationships or other conflicts of interest related to the course content.