Quality Safety Improvement and Audit

Details

Title

Quality Safety Improvement and Audit

Type

Stage One

Module code

HPE311

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse and synthesise their understanding of the importance of quality and safety improvement in the delivery of a high quality, patient focussed service. The Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to apply their knowledge in the clinical setting and demonstrate the ability to manage, analyse, present and justify at least one quality improvement project, using the results to improve patient care to promote the delivery of high quality care in accordance with local/national guidelines.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to analyse, synthesise and apply their knowledge with respect to clinical investigations including: 

• the purpose of a clinical governance framework to unite  a  range  of  quality improvement activities to safeguard standards and facilitate improvements in clinical services.
• the principles of quality and safety improvement in healthcare.
• how care plans can be used to improve patient safety.
• safety issues in the framework of case based discussions.
• local major incident planning and their potential role in any such incident.
• the purpose, generation and review of clinical guidelines.
• the benefits and limitations of guidelines and care pathways.
• systems of quality assurance and clinical improvement in clinical work and training.
• the quality improvement process.
• opportunities for improving the reliability of care following audit, adverse events or ‘near misses’.
• root-cause analysis.
• importance of reporting, discussing, and learning from all incidents and concerns related to patient safety.
• the audit cycle and how it relates to the improvement of clinical care in Clinical Biomedical Engineering and the wider health care environment.
• features of an effective audit that leads to real and sustained changes in practice.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current research, protocols and guidelines and its application to the performance and mastery of the following skills with respect to quality and safety and:

• initiate and lead a system of quality assurance and service improvement in a Clinical Biomedical Engineering setting.
• design, implement and evaluate a quality improvement project and disseminate the findings, instigating changes in practice  as necessary.
• critically reflect on the challenges of maintaining and improving services building on a critique of available evidence base.
• evaluate personal learning with respect to quality and safety improvement and the role of audit as part of personal professional development.

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the quality and safety of Clinical Biomedical Engineering services and be able to:

• lead discussions on improving technical clinical practice in a multi-professional setting, defending and justifying proposals.
• identify opportunities for improving the reliability of the Clinical Biomedical Engineering service as an outcome of audit, adverse events, critical incidents or ‘near misses’ and critically evaluate the impact of each improvement.
• actively  participate and/or lead trust or directorate audit/clinical governance processesandmeetings.
• evaluate the recommendations of an audit or Health Improvement Project related to patient safety issue, disseminate findings and introduce improvements into service.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of this module the Clinical Scientist in HSST will be expected to evaluate their own response to both normal and complex situations demonstrating the professional attributes and insights required of a Consultant Clinical Scientist working within the limits of professional competence referring as appropriate to senior staff and will:

• show respect and behave in accordance with Good Scientific Practice
• establish and influence the culture of health and safety in the workplace
• have a clear focus on effective patient centred service delivery, minimising risk and promoting patient safety.