Quality Outcomes Essentials for My Nursing Career

Some courses are available to UPMC employees only.

Quality Outcomes Essentials is a self-paced, comprehensive program designed to provide UPMC nurses the knowledge and skills needed to initiate and support quality initiatives within the framework of UPMC policies, practices, and expectations. Modules may be completed in sequence or according to the participant’s needs.

A UPMC Wolff Learning Academy Certificate of Completion in Quality Outcomes Essentials is available for UPMC nurses who complete the following asynchronous courses (estimated time to complete – 5 hours):

  • Introduction to Quality at UPMC
  • QI Projects, Research, and REDCap at UPMC
  • Federal Quality and Public Reporting **
  • National Quality and Public Reporting **
  • Pennsylvania Quality and Public Reporting **
  • Commercial Payor Programs **
  • Developing Effective Educational Modules
  • Developing Effective Questionnaire and Survey Procedures for Program Evaluation & Research
  • Overview of Research Methods and Publication
  • Elementary Statistical Concepts
 

** These courses require registration approval due to the nature of information they contain. Approval is based on using a UPMC email address when creating a Wolff Learning Academy account. Content within these courses is updated annually with the most current information.

Wolff Learning Academy Quality Outcomes Essentials Certificate of Completion is valid for 2 years.

Obtaining the UPMC Wolff Learning Academy Quality Outcomes Essentials Certificate of Completion

The tracking form below can be used to record your course progress and final date of completion and submission. You will not be asked to upload this tracking form as proof of completion.

UPMC Wolff Learning Academy Quality Outcomes Essentials Certificate of Completion Tracking Form

When all program requirements have been met (reviewing course material, completing course surveys,
and attending any applicable live sessions), submit your program completion through this link. You will be asked to attest that you have completed all required coursework and provide your UPMC employee ID number.

Program completions are verified during the last business day of every month. Successful participants will see UPMC Wolff Learning Academy Quality Outcomes Essentials Certificate of Completion on their transcript in HR Direct Learning during the first week of the following month. A certificate of completion will be available through HR Direct Learning once the course is viewable on your HR Direct Learning transcript. For example, a program completion submitted on the 5th of March will be verified at the end of March, but the certificate will not be available in HR Direct Learning until the first week of April.

If your submission is not approved for any reason, participants must resubmit again through the program completion link and be processed along the next monthly schedule in which they fall after completing all program requirements. 

Introduction to Quality at UPMC

This module provides a basic introduction to the core elements of quality and the quality structure that exists within UPMC. Topics discussed in this module are the Wolff Center at UPMC divisions and services, Quality Analytics, Clinical Complications, Quality Data Abstraction, and Quality Improvement (QI) and Research.

Register for Introduction to Quality at UPMC

QI Projects, Research, and REDCap at UPMC

This course is designed to guide those new to quality improvement (QI) through submitting a project to the Quality Improvement Review Committee (QRC), briefly introducing both the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process and REDCap as a data tracking tool. Distinguishing between QI and research is also discussed. 

Register for QI Projects, Research, and REDCap at UPMC

Federal Quality and Public Reporting

This course features measures, links, and outcomes for many federal programs and applications such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Quality Net (QNet), Patient Experience and HCAHPS, Center for Disease Control (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), and the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement.

Register for Federal Quality and Public Reporting

Pennsylvania Quality and Public Reporting

This course focuses on measures and outcomes for Hospital Quality Incentive Program (HQIP), PA Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), and The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP). Updated annually – last updated for February 2021 outcomes.

Register for Pennsylvania Quality and Public Reporting

National Quality and Public Reporting

This course focuses on measures and outcomes of The Joint Commission, The Leapfrog Group, and U.S. News & World Report.

Register for National Quality and Public Reporting

Commercial Payor Programs

This course focuses on measures and outcomes for the Highmark Quality Blue, UnitedHealthcare Hospital Performance Based Compensation (HPBC), and UPMC Health Plan Hospital Partners programs. Updated annually – last updated for December 2020 outcomes.

Register for Commercial Payor Programs

Developing Effective Education Modules

After completing a quality improvement or research project, education about the change is often the next step. This module will walk you through the process of how to successfully build a value-added education piece to accompany any new change.

Register for Developing Effective Education Modules

Developing Effective Questionnaires and Survey Procedures for Program Evaluation & Research

Questionnaires and surveys are a common component to any QI or research project. This course will provide you with concepts and tools to facilitate an effective questionnaire or survey.

Register for Developing Effective Questionnaires and Survey Procedures for Program Evaluation & Research

Overview of Research Methods and Publication

This course will provide the basic concepts of research to consider before beginning a research project. As with many research endeavors, publishing results is often an expectation. Participants will also find many tips and tricks to help you successfully publish your research outcomes.

Register for Overview of Research Methods and Publication

Elementary Statistical Concepts

This course is designed to introduce the learner to basic statistical concepts that are useful not only in fully understanding data presentations and analysis in published literature, but also in preparing your own projects for publication.

Register for Elementary Statistical Concepts