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- Enhancing Quality Through Patient Safety MSc / PgDip / PgCert
Enhancing Quality Through Patient Safety MSc / PgDip / PgCert
| Course title: | PgCert / PgDip / MSc Enhancing Quality Through Patient Safety |
| Apply: | direct to the University |
| Code: | MSXEQ |
| Start (ft): | October |
| Start (pt): | October |
| Mode: | full-time/ part-time |
| Duration: | 1 year full-time/ 2 years part-time |
| Location: | Butterfield Park campus |
| Faculty: | Faculty of Health & Social Sciences |
| Department: | Department of Acute Health Care |
This course focuses upon the contribution you can make to the patient safety culture.
The course is taught by Frank Milligan who works in partnership with the Patient Safety Agency. Frank is also author of the following:
Milligan, F Robinson, K. (2003) Limiting harm in health care: a nursing perspective. Oxford: Blackwell Science
Milligan, F. ‘Professions, organisations and patient safety: stories of malicious and inept practice’, in Currie, L. (ed) (2007) Understanding patient safety. London: Quay Books. Pp. 53-78.
You will analyse risk, patient safety incidents and develop solutions.
This course is also offered as a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma if you already have a masters degree or are looking for a shortened course as part of your continuing professional development.
Summary
The MSc Enhancing Quality through Patient Safety may be taken as either a full-time course over a period of a year or a part-time course extending over a period of two years. It consists of a mix of core and option units
During your studies you will study the following units:
Patient safety
Design, human factors and patient safety
Influencing people and organisations
Project management in health and social care
Dissertation
Option unit(s)
Option units
Your course has been designed to allow some flexibility in the units studied. You will need to choose an option unit or units totalling 30 credits to achieve the number of credits for the award. The option units currently available to students taking this course are:
Legal & Ethical Perspectives in Health Care (30 credits)
Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
Why choose this course?
This MSc, ‘Enhancing quality through patient safety’, is one of the first in the UK to deal specifically with the patient safety agenda. Patient safety is a key priority of the Department of Health, as evidenced by the fact that it is the first objective in the Standards for Health document (DH, 2004).
Since its creation in 2001, the National Patient Safety Agency has concentrated much of its efforts on facilitating organisational and occupational change to promote patient safety.
It is therefore clear that senior healthcare staff are required to support and drive the patient safety agenda as an integral part of their work role.
Offering a high quality programme at masters level meets the continuing professional development (CPD) needs of the staff involved in delivering the objectives of the Department of Health, and organisations such as the NPSA, at the local healthcare organisation level.
Career Opportunities
The drivers for enhanced quality and patient safety will continue to grow. Practitioners achieving this qualification will be well placed to participate and lead in the developments that are being both made and planned within the patient safety arena.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
The approach to learning in this masters programme are reflective in a pragmatic sense. The theoretical frameworks and models underpinning the MSc will be presented using key lectures that the student will then be required to link directly to practice.
The programme will mirror, through student involvement, the facilitation of patient involvement in the practice environment a key aspect of the patient safety agenda.
Assessment
A range of different assessment strategies are used, but the unifying theme is that you will be required to analyse and evaluate practice in order to positively influence and contribute to the development of a patient safety culture.
The methods utilised include case study, examination, presentations, and root cause analysis.
Dissertation/project and research
An eighteen thousand word dissertation based upon a piece of research, audit or change management project undertaken by the student completes the programme. You will also submit a two thousand word plan in preparation for the above.
Further details about the course
The course analyses a range of issues including the nature and origins of a patient safety culture, assessment of that culture and the types of patient safety incidents that occur.
It also explores aspects of design and human factors theory from the safety critical industries, drawing parallels where relevant with healthcare practice.
Quality enhancement within the clinical governance agenda is also examined along with root cause analysis and the shift towards an open and fair culture.
Recommended reading
Vincent, C. (2006) Patient safety. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Walshe, K. Boaden, R. (2006) Patient safety: research into practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Entry requirements
Standard entry requirements apply for this course.
Special entry requirements
Available to all health and social care practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds. Students should have an honours degree or the equivalent in terms of advanced study, research or professional experience.
An IELTS 6 or equivalent is required for international students.
You do not need to be in clinical practice during the course but will need access to a practice environment in terms of the assessment strategy.
Fees, Bursaries, Scholarships, Costs
For information on Course fees please see the web link below.
Attendance
The course is taught across two terms and dates for 2008 will be published shortly.
Find out more
For further information on this course contact:
Frank Milligan, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, Units 260-270, Butterfield Park, Luton, Beds, LU2 8DL
E: frank.milligan@beds.ac.uk
T: 01582 743825
Related Links
- National Patient Safety Agency
- The Healthcare Commission
- Application forms (UK/EU students)
- Application form (International students)
- Application form (Trust Funded students only)
Related courses
There are a range of other masters courses that you maybe interested in.
- Public Health MSc
- Leadership in Healthcare Practice MSc
- Advanced Practice MSc / PgDip / PgCert
- Advanced Nursing Studies MSc / PgDip / PgCert
Further Study Opportunities
Students who complete this course will be able to continue their studies at doctoral level through a traditional PhD or a Professional Doctorate.
General Enquiries
- www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply for information about standard entry requirements, application routes, open days, fees and funding.
- T: +44 (0)844 848 2234 UK/EU Admissions
- T: +44 (0)844 848 2235 International Admissions
- Order a prospectus form. Enquire about courses and order a printed undergraduate or postgraduate prospectus.
- T: +44 (0)1234 400 400 University switchboard
