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.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT
COURSE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS AND
WAYS TO ACCESS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
*Use a UPMC email address for account creation*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
