Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative

As a component of the UMMS’ overall Quality Management Program, continuous quality improvement (CQI) fosters an environment where the medical school engages in a continuous and intentional process aimed at supporting educational program improvement, contributing to positive outcomes during accreditation review, and meeting the Liaison for Medical Education (LCME) accreditation requirement:

Element 1.1: Strategic Planning and Continuous Quality Improvement

“A medical school engages in ongoing planning and continuous quality improvement processes that establish short and long-term programmatic goals, result in the achievement of measurable outcomes used to improve programmatic quality, and ensure effective monitoring of the medical education program’s compliance with accreditation standards."

Areas of monitoring that form the basis for continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts include:

  • Identification of risk areas based on current LCME Standards and Elements
  • Ongoing citations of Standards or Elements from previous accreditation visits
  • Institutional strategic planning objectives that impact the medical education program, services, or resources in such instances where they overlap or align with accreditation standards

A key part of CQI is the maintenance of individuals and groups with responsibility for evaluating and improving components of the medical education program as a whole, especially those associated with ensuring the UMMS meets LCME requirements. While not exhaustive, brief descriptions of the key groups and individuals are provided below.

  • Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education: Continuous Quality Improvement efforts related to the curricular and para-curricular mission of the school and associated with compliance with LCME requirements, are the responsibility of the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) under the purview of the Senior Associate Dean for UME. Priorities for CQI efforts as they relate to this policy will focus on areas that have direct impacts on undergraduate medical education and the undergraduate medical student experience

  • Medical Student Education Committee (MSEC): The MSEC and its subcommittees are charged with full and absolute responsibility for the continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes in the design, review, evaluation, and improvement of the curricular program as a whole. This includes curricular content, methods of pedagogy and assessment, and setting standards of achievement for successful graduation from the medical education program

  • Director of Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement (OACQI): Under the Office of UME, the Director: 1) provides overall direction in establishing systems for ongoing monitoring of LCME compliance; 2) serves as liaison to the LCME regarding accreditation-related questions; 3) collaborates with the MSEC and with other offices of the medical school to advise on LCME requirements and maintain compliance in their charges; 4) develops and implements CQI initiatives as part of an overall quality management system; 5) coordinates all administrative tasks associated with accreditation Self-Study periods.

  • Office of Assessment & Evaluation: Under the Office of UME and led by the Assistant Dean for Assessment & Evaluation, this office evaluates, endorses, and maintains best practices in pedagogy, assessment of student performance, and overall educational program evaluation.
     
  • Office of Curriculum: The curriculum Office works closely with faculty course, thread, clerkship, and specialty leaders to respond to real-time student feedback about instruction and annual course/clerkship evaluations. The leadership team identifies areas of improvement, key partners, and supports ongoing measures to reach improvement goals. The leadership team facilitates regular course closeout meetings to review the successes and challenges that were encountered and plan for course delivery the following year.

To learn more about the UMMS’ Quality Management Program, its connection to accreditation, and the process for identifying CQI priorities, read the Accreditation Monitoring & Quality Management Program Manual.

For questions about CQI Initiatives, contact Joseph Oppedisano, DAc, Director of Accreditation and Quality Improvement at [email protected].
 

CQI Policy