Patient Safety Leadership

Mailing Address:
PSL Admissions
University of Illinois Chicago - College of Medicine
Department of Medical Education
Chicago, IL 60612

Contact Information:
Sharon Lanza, (312) 996-6738
slanza3@uic.edu
psl.uic.edu

Administration:
Program Director: Aarti Raghavan, MD, FAAP, MS (PSL)
Assistant Program Director: Sherri Mavrias
Assistant Program Director: George Vukotich

Program Codes:
2PFS5142MSU (MS in Patient Safety Leadership)
2PFS5142NDE (Graduate Certificate in Essentials in Healthcare Safety and Quality)

Patient safety is an issue at the forefront of healthcare today. In fact, a recent study suggests that in the U.S., medical error is the third most common cause of death [l]. As we eliminate error and reduce risk in our healthcare system, we directly improve care and reduce cost. The emerging field of Patient Safety is transforming healthcare for the 21st century.

The University of Illinois Chicago offers the Master of Science in Patient Safety Leadership and a Graduate Certificate Program in Essentials in Healthcare Safety and Quality. The Patient Safety Leadership (PSL) programs are designed to facilitate dynamic educational opportunities in a learner-centered environment for both clinical and nonclinical healthcare professionals who desire to become leaders in patient safety and the delivery of quality healthcare. PSL students study historical approaches to safety and quality care, as well as discover leading-edge quality improvement and risk-reduction strategies, among them health information technology and the concepts of full disclosure and just culture. Learners will benefit from the focus on interprofessional teamwork, simulation training, communication and collaboration, medical error science, organizational change, and healthcare leadership. Graduates of the program will have the skills to design, implement, and lead a broad range of patient safety activities that guide a healthcare organization towards a culture of safer healthcare practices across all healthcare delivery settings.

The program courses are delivered online, asynchronously, using the Blackboard Learning Management System. In the online environment, PSL learners engage in self-directed and team-based learning. A virtual residency requirement (during PSL 501) at the UIC campus provides learners the opportunity to practice and apply the tools and principles introduced in the preceding online courses, and to participate in active learning with their peers .

Program Administration

The degree for the Patient Safety Leadership program is conferred by the Graduate College at the UIC College of Medicine commencement. The program is offered by the UIC Department of Medical Education (DME) and administered by the UIC Extended Campus.

The certificate program is conferred by the Department of Medical Education in the UIC College of Medicine.

Detailed information about the PSL programs can be found online.

[l] Makary, M.A., & Daniel, M. (2016). Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the U.S. BMJ, 353, i2139.

Admission and Degree Requirements

MS in Patient Safety Leadership

PSL 401. Patient Safety and Quality Care Improvement. 4 hours.

Introduces students to relevant theory, content, tools and methods in the fields of patient safety and quality care improvement. Course Information: Extensive computer use required.

PSL 402. Error Science, Risk and Communication. 4 hours.

Builds on the knowledge acquired in PSL 401 by introducing learners to relevant theory, tools, and methods in the fields of error science, risk, communication, and error disclosure. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Meets eight weeks of the semester. Recommended Background: PSL 401.

PSL 403. Communication and Collaboration. 4 hours.

Introduction to advanced communication strategies for success in the current and future health care system. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 402; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 404. Organizational Leadership in Health Systems. 4 hours.

Organization theory, culture, and change specifically related to the health care system in the current medical error and quality improvement environment. Focuses on leadership specific to creating a culture of safety. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 403; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 413. Quality and Performance Improvement. 4 hours.

Presents the practical application of an improvement science project on healthcare systems, implementation science theory and methodology. The learner will focus on the multiple everyday practitioner processes in need of improvement. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. Meets eight weeks of the semester. Prerequisite(s): Post baccalaureate students in healthcare and working healthcare professionals.

PSL 501. Healthcare Simulation, Team, Applied Leadership Principles. 4 hours.

Requires the learner to synthesize and integrate patient safety theory and practice and apply related knowledge and skill toward the development of recommended safety solutions. Includes onsite residency. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 404; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 502. Health Sciences Research and Information Technology. 4 hours.

Application in developing, analyzing, and reporting behavioral and/or organizational measures specific to safety and quality care outcomes. Introduction to electronic medical record, e-prescribing, telemedicine and electronic resource management. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 501; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 503. Economics, Policy and Environment. 4 hours.

Major topics of discussion include accreditation and regulatory issues, Federal and state constituents and laws, and institutional and individual legal issues in relation to the patient safety movement. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 502; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 504. Creating Human and System Change. 4 hours.

Examine the concept of change and its impact on health care organizations and individuals. Assess current systems, create effective change strategies for process improvements, behavior change, and facilitation of a patient safety culture. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 503; or consent of the instructor.

PSL 594. Special Topics in Patient Safety Leadership. 1-4 hours.

Selected topics of current interest as determined by faculty in patient safety leadership. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register for more than one section per term. Extensive computer use required.

PSL 596. Independent Study in Patient Safety. 1-4 hours.

Independent study course, not related to the student's capstone project, under the direction of a faculty member. Course Information: Extensive computer use required. There are two eight-week terms in the spring and fall semesters. The course will be offered twice in the fall and spring semesters. The course will be offered once in the summer semester. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours of credit. Prerequisite(s): Open only to Master's degree students; and approval of the department; and consent of the PSL Program Director or DGS.

PSL 597. Capstone Project. 4 hours.

Provides the opportunity for the master's candidate to demonstrate his/her ability to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills acquired from the master's program. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): Grade of B or better in PSL 504; or consent of the instructor.

Academic Catalog

2024-2025 Graduate & Professional Catalog

Patient Safety Leadership

Program Administration

Admission and Degree Requirements

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