Focused Certificates

Healthcare Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Certificate

Build the skills and the confidence to lead safer, higher-quality healthcare in any setting with ISQua’s fully online Focused Certificate.

Duration

12-month subscription (approx. 40 study hrs)

Learning Mode

100% online, self-paced, start anytime

Programme Fee

From €175, with reductions for ISQua members

Credential

An ISQua Focused Certificate in Quality & Patient Safety

Languages

Available in English, Türkçe and Portuguese

About the Focused Certificate in Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety

ISQua’s Focused Certificate: Introduction to Quality Improvement & Patient Safety distils three decades of global expertise into one flexible, 40-hour online course. Through concise video lectures,case studies, and self-checks (no final exam), you’ll master proven improvement methods, safety science, and data-driven decision-making – skills you can use straightaway to reduce harm and lift outcomes. Complete the programme in your own time within 12 months, earn a recognised certificate, and join a network of practitioners committed to safer, higher-value care.

Why Choose This Focused Certificate?

Created by the society that sets the global bar for healthcare quality and patient safety, this course pairs world-class evidence with the realities of busy wards and clinics.

Immediate Assessment

Every lesson ends with a short assessment that tests your understanding of the key messages to help you make changes in your workplace.

Global Best Practice

Content is curated by ISQua experts from six WHO regions, giving you ideas that work in high-tech hospitals and resource-challenged settings alike.

Data Confidence

Learn to build run charts, spot variation, and translate numbers into decisions – a must-have skill for audits, accreditation, and quality boards.

Flexible by Design

Five-minute videos and downloadable worksheets fit round-the-clock schedules. Learn on a mobile device during your commute or a laptop during study days.

Patient-Centred Focus

Modules weave patient-safety science and co-production principles into every improvement method so people – not just processes – stay at the heart of change.

Career Recognition

Add an ISQua certificate to your CV and LinkedIn profile to demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.

Course Content

The certificate is split into two themed streams – Quality Improvement (20 presentations) and Patient Safety (20 presentations). Each presentation ends with a three-question quiz; pass them all and your certificate is automatically issued.

Introduction to Quality Improvement

Topic	Learning Objectives	Presenter
Introduction to Healthcare Improvement	Describe the difference between quality assurance and quality improvement. Identify some of the common challenges for healthcare around the world (ex. inability to reliably deliver best practices, hospital acquired conditions, end of life care, etc.). Describe the concept of “Value” in healthcare (includes aspects of quality and cost). Name the six domains of “Quality” as defined by the US Institutes of Medicine.	Jeffrey Braithwaite
Quality Improvement Methods	Describe the difference between the main types of measures (structure, process, outcome) and their relationship. Explore the relationship between Quality Improvement strategies and patient safety: the DUQuE study and its implications will be presented as an example. Briefly describe the process of implementing quality interventions.	Rosa Sunol
The Model for Improvement	Ask the three critical questions in the Model for Improvement. List the critical elements of an effective aim statement. Describe the difference between the main types of measures (structure, process, outcome, balancing).	Gail Nielsen
Testing & Measuring Change with PDSA Cycles	Describe the specific components of the PDSA cycle. Describe ways to collect data during the “Do” phase of the PDSA cycle. Understand how to translate your data (“study”) to move to the “act” phase.	John Fitzsimons & Emmanuel Aiyenigba
Interpreting Data	Build a run chart (including plotting a baseline median/mean and annotations). Describe the difference between common cause and special cause variation. Identify several rules that identify non-random variation in outcomes.	David Vaughan
Quality Improvement Tools	Create a SMART aim. Build a driver diagram that addresses the SMART aim created. Understand the appropriate times to use other critical Quality Improvement Tools Understand “the theory” as shown by the driver diagram.	John Fitzsimons & Emmanuel Aiyenigba
Using Evidence-Based Medicine to Achieve Quality Outcomes	Name where to find out about best practices (ex. literature, registries of databases, etc.). Describe how to use Evidence-Based Medicine to improve quality in healthcare Understand how to achieve best value and outcomes	Enas el Gouhary
Variation & Managing Clinical Processes	Recognise the difference between random variation and special cause variation. Understand the importance of a “stable” process as a precursor to improvement. Describe approaches to optimise a clinical process.	David Vaughan
Lean Management Systems	Describe the five components of the Lean-based “Daily Management System”. Understand what is meant by the term “visual management” and describe how this might be used to improve quality. Describe a “tiered huddle” system, and establish a connection between tiered huddles and situational awareness.	Ben Chan
Implementation Science	Define what is meant by the term “implementation science”. Describe the average lag time between discovery of best practice and comprehensive implementation. Name two barriers and two facilitators that influence successful implementation of best practices.	Jeffrey Braithwaite
Spread	Describe what is meant by the term “spread” in healthcare. Explain why “spread” is such an important topic in quality improvement. List several components of a successful spread plan.	Rashad Massoud
Generalisability & Sustainability	Identify several strategies to ensure a local quality project is generalisable to the entire organisation. Describe three approaches that increase the likelihood of sustaining the gains of a QI project. Describe ways to design sustainability into QI work at the start of the project.	Lynne Maher
Publishing & Presenting QI Work	Explain some of the challenges faced by scientists when publishing QI projects. Determine if “improvement science” is perceived as “real science” at your institution. Describe the SQUIRE guidelines and their importance to publishing QI work.	Helen Crisp
Informatics	Give several examples of how the Electronic Medical Record can improve the quality of care. Identify what other technology has been used to improve quality and patient safety (ex. bar coding, point of care testing, etc.). Describe at least two important studies that show improved outcomes because of implementing an electronic medical record.	David Bates
QI Indicators	Identify the most important quality indicators tracked at your institution. Describe the quality metrics that are required for submission to external agencies (ex. regulatory agencies, insurance agencies, etc.). Determine what metrics are presently linked to “pay for performance” approaches in your location.	Peter Hibbert
How to Identify Process Problems for Improvement	Explain some of the limitations of standards and training to fix problems in health service delivery. Identify problems in processes of care that can be readily fixed. Share examples from hospitals and clinics in low and middle income countries of how health workers have used these approaches.	Gail Nielsen
Current QI Trends	Understand the long journey over the past two decades of improving healthcare.	Rashad Massoud

Introduction to Patient Safety

Topic	Learning Objectives	Presenter
Introduction to Patient Safety	Know the frequency/cost of adverse events worldwide (Ex. to Err is Human). Recognize that adverse events are a common cause of death in hospitals. Describe efforts to date to address adverse events and results. Understand safety from viewpoint of the patient.	Paul Sharek
From Error to Harm	Describe the difference between error and harm.Establish the link between human error and harm (ex. Swiss cheese model). List three unsafe acts (Ex. James Reason model).	Qianli Jiang
Human Factors and Patient Safety	To understand the key principles of Human Factors and Ergonomics science. To be able to describe how the Human Factors and Ergonomics approach to safety (most effective to least effective). To have an appreciation of where Human Factors and Ergonomics could and should be considered to improve systems design and human interfaces/interactions.	Sue Hignett, Thomas Jun & Mike Fray
Effective Teamwork & Communication	Advise your institution on how teamwork can contribute to quality and safety of care Describe the key contents of a teamwork training program Explain elements of effective structured communication tools to decrease risk	Anthony Staines
Responding to Adverse Events	State the immediate next steps to be taken after an AE occurs. Describe two elements of an effective disclosure of an AE to a patient/caregiver Define what the term “Second victim” means.	Albert Wu
Quality Improvement Tools
Quality Improvement Tools	Explain Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and its purpose. Show how an RCA can be used to prevent harms in the future. Name an event that would be appropriate for an RCA.	Peter Lachman
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEAs)	Understand the five “Whys” and when an FMEA would be used. State how to assess the relative impact of failure on each component of the process. Describe the approach to identifying “high risk” components of the process being evaluated in the FMEA.	Paul Rafferty
Healthcare Standards	Define healthcare standards including common patient care and management standards and how they are applied clinically. Understand the difference between awards, accreditation, regulation and peer review. Know what structures are necessary and the importance of processes to the delivery of high quality and safe patient care.	Stephen Clark
Building a Culture of Safety	Identify the three critical components of a culture of safety (ex psychologic safety, transparency, supportive leadership). Explain can be done to create a culture of safety. List the clinical outcomes that have been improved with a strong culture of safety. Articulate how do measure (what are the attributes of) the culture of safety in their own organisations.	Christina Krause
Just Culture	Describe what is meant by a “fair and just culture”. Understand what the word “reckless” means and how it relates to patient safety. Explain how a healthcare organization with a just culture would respond when a staff member has excessive workload.	Sidney Dekker
Person-Centred Care	Understand the concept of Patient-Centred Care Discuss how to implement effective Patient-Centred Care Give examples of how we can deliver Patient-Centred Care	Kris Vanhaecht
Measuring Patient Safety	Name three ways to measure patient safety Identify two strengths and two weaknesses of occurrence reporting Explain what a trigger is and identify one strength and one weakness of using “trigger tools” to measure safety Describe the Framework for safety measurement	Peter Lachman
Understanding Healthcare as a Complex System	Understand the complexity of the health care system Differentiate between Safety and Quality in health care Understand risk and harm through the patient’s eyes Describe different models of safety Consider the balance of benefit and harm within an episode of care	Rene Amalberti
Understanding and Managing Clinical Risk	Understand the complexity of the health care system Differentiate between Safety and Quality in health care Understand risk and harm through the patient’s eyes Describe different models of safety Consider the balance of benefit and harm within an episode of care	Bruno Lucet
High Reliability	List the five attributes of a high reliability organization Explain what the word “resilience” means in the context of high reliability. Describe “situational awareness” and give an example of how this attribute can improve patient safety.	John Brennan
Change Management	List the levels of “adopters” in the Rogers model of “the diffusion of innovation” Discuss the value of a “pilot test”in managing change. Name three techniques that increase the likelihood that change will be adopted	Lynne Maher
Clinical Applications of Patient Safety Theory – Part 1	Define what a bundle is. Understand the bundle elements for preventing Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections	Eyal Zimlichman

Course Fees & Enrolment

Tuition is tiered to make world-class learning accessible everywhere. The 12-month subscription starts the day you enrol – study at your pace, repeat modules as needed, and download your certificate the moment you finish.

Category	Hours	Subscription	Cost	Eligibility
Standard Rate	40	12 months	€175	Non-Members, High-Income Countries
Standard UMIC Rate	40	12 months	€100	Non-Members, Upper-Middle Income Countries
Standard LMIC Rate	40	12 months	€75	Non-Members, Lower-Middle Income Countries
Member/Fellow HIC	40	12 months	€100	Active Members/Fellows, High-Income Countries
Member/Fellow UMIC	40	12 months	€75	Active Members/Fellows, Upper-Middle Income Countries
Member LMIC	40	12 months	€50	Active Members, Lower-Middle Income Countries
Low-Income Countries	40	12 months	FREE	If you are living & working in a Low Income Country, become an ISQua Friend and take the course for FREE

FAQs

Below are the most common queries we receive about our Focused Certification programme. If yours isn’t listed, email [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.

How long do I have to finish?

You have 12 months from the day you enrol. Most participants complete the 40 hours in 6–8 weeks of part-time study.

Is there a final exam?

No. Progress is assessed through short quizzes after each presentation. Pass them all and your certificate is automatically issued.

Can I start any time?

Yes. Enrolments are rolling – begin the course as soon as your payment is processed.

Does the certificate earn CPD/CME credits?

Many professional bodies accept ISQua certificates for CPD. Check with your regulator; we provide a breakdown of learning hours on request.

Do I need prior QI experience?

No. The course is designed for beginners and those seeking a structured refresher in quality and safety fundamentals.

How do member discounts work?

Join ISQua first, receive a unique promo code, then enrol at the reduced rate shown in the table above.

Is the content mobile-friendly?

Absolutely. Videos, quizzes, and resources are optimised for desktop, tablet, and smartphone. Study wherever suits you.

Take the Next Step

Add an internationally-recognised healthcare quality and patient safety certificate to your CV this quarter – without leaving your desk or waiting for term dates.