HarvardX: Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to improving healthcare quality and patient safety from a global perspective. Over approximately 8–10 weeks, learners engage with evidence-based frameworks, real-world case studies, and practical tools to drive systemic improvements in diverse healthcare settings. With a total time commitment of 40–50 hours, the course blends foundational concepts with actionable strategies applicable across resource contexts.
Module 1: Foundations of Quality Improvement
Estimated time: 10 hours
- Understand healthcare quality frameworks
- Explore systems thinking in clinical settings
- Learn performance measurement methods
- Study patient-centered care principles
Module 2: Patient Safety and Risk Reduction
Estimated time: 10 hours
- Identify common causes of medical errors
- Implement safety checklists and protocols
- Explore infection prevention strategies
- Analyze real-world safety case studies
Module 3: Leadership and Systems Strengthening
Estimated time: 10 hours
- Develop leadership skills for quality improvement
- Align teams around safety goals
- Implement sustainable change initiatives
- Measure and monitor improvement outcomes
Module 4: Global Health Applications
Estimated time: 10 hours
- Examine healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings
- Apply quality frameworks to global contexts
- Design improvement strategies for diverse systems
- Develop action plans for healthcare transformation
Module 5: Data-Driven Decision Making
Estimated time: 8 hours
- Utilize data for performance tracking
- Interpret indicators of quality and safety
- Apply continuous improvement models
Module 6: Final Project
Estimated time: 12 hours
- Develop a context-specific quality improvement plan
- Incorporate patient safety and leadership strategies
- Present a scalable intervention for global health impact
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of healthcare systems
- Interest in public health or clinical improvement
- No prior certification required
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Apply research-based frameworks to improve healthcare quality
- Implement patient safety protocols in diverse settings
- Lead teams in quality improvement initiatives
- Design data-informed strategies for health system strengthening
- Create actionable plans to address global health challenges