Healthcare Quality Management- Infection Control and Patient Safety

ABOUT THE COURSE:This course is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to ensure a safe and high-quality healthcare environment. Over 12 weeks, the students will explore key principles of quality management, strategies for preventing infections, and methods for enhancing patient safety. They will learn to apply the global standards, national guidelines, and evidence-based practices to reduce healthcare-associated infections and mitigate risks. By the end of this program, the students will not only understand how to enhance patient outcomes but also be able to actively cultivate a culture of safety for both patients and staff, making you a valuable asset to any healthcare team.INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG and PG studentsPREREQUISITES: This course is best suited for professionals/ students who wish to specialize in quality management in healthcare. While no specific prior course is a strict prerequisite, participants would benefit from a foundational understanding of basic healthcare operations and medical terminology.INDUSTRY SUPPORT: NHRC, QCI, NABH, GCI, ISO, NABL, CII, NIH, NHM

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to healthcare quality – definitions, dimensions, and importanceQuality management frameworks – TQM, CQI, Lean, Six Sigma
Week 2:Accreditation systems – NABH, JCI, ISO standards in healthcare
Week 3:Basics of infection control – chain of infection, standard and transmission-based precautionsHand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilization & disinfection techniques

Week 4:Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) – definitions, indicators, reporting systems
Week 5:Antimicrobial stewardship programs – rationale, strategies, and implementation

Week 6:Outbreak investigation and management in healthcare facilities

Week 7:Introduction to patient safety – definitions, scope, and WHO’s Global Patient Safety Action PlanHuman factors, medical errors, and adverse events

Week 8:Root cause analysis (RCA) and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
Week 9:Safety culture in healthcare – leadership, teamwork, and communication

Week 10:National and international patient safety goals and IPC guidelines (WHO, CDC, MoHFW India)

Week 11:Risk management and legal and ethical issues in patient safety and infection control

Week 12:
Quality improvement projects – planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation