Service Improvement in Action: In this first theme, students will have the opportunity to learn from real examples of service improvement in healthcare settings. Students will have the opportunity to engage with those who have completed service improvement projects and will gain valuable insights into these projects’ real-world impacts on healthcare delivery.
Lean Principles and Six Sigma: In this second theme, students will have the opportunity to explore in depth Lean Principles and Six Sigma methodologies, through engagement with real world case studies and practical tabletop exercises, from inside and outside healthcare contexts. Students will gain an insight understanding of the impact such approaches can have on improving sustainability, efficiency, waste management, and patient safety.
Identifying an area for Improvement: In this third theme, students will be introduced to the importance of gaining data and insights from a range of sources about a current aspect of their service to determine what improvement, if any, is needed. This will include full consideration of the problem, current guidelines, internal and external influencing factors, stakeholder mapping and engagement.
Planning for improvement: In this forth theme, students will have the opportunity to begin planning a service improvement project relating to an identified area for improvement in their field of practice. This will include considerations as to what specific improvements are needed, how these will be implemented, and consideration as to what outcomes are important and how these will be measured. It will also involve students articulating the use of various service improvements tools, methodologies, and approaches, such as the Model for Improvement, PDSA cycles, and run charts.
Implementation and dissemination: This theme will involve implementing the service improvement project that you have designed in an appropriate healthcare context within your field of practice. This will involve seeking permissions to conduct service improvement work in accordance with local requirements and approval processes. As part of this theme, you will be provided with a comprehensive overview of practicalities of conducting a service improvement project, including the various approvals that will likely be needed in different contexts, as well as supervision to support you in the conduct of your study. Once the study has concluded, you will be supported to find innovative ways to disseminate the outcomes of your project, including opportunities to submit your work for publication with relevant service improvement journals.
Bringing people with you and sustaining change: In this final theme, students will have the opportunity to consider how they will use leadership and teamworking skills to inspire others towards change, in order to mobilise their health teams towards a shared purpose, embed, and sustain identified improvements. This will build on content from Influencing Innovation and Change, considering different approaches to leadership and teamworking to implement and sustain improvements in healthcare settings.
