Advancing Quality in Health Systems Foundations Strategies and Sustainable Action

Advancing Quality in Health Systems Foundations Strategies and Sustainable Action

This interactive e-learning course equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care by embedding quality improvement principles into every level of the health system. Through evidence-based strategies, real-world case studies, and global benchmarks, participants will explore the foundations of healthcare quality, national quality policies, system thinking, and sustainable quality interventions. The course empowers professionals to improve patient outcomes and experiences across various care settings.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define the core principles, dimensions, and frameworks that constitute quality in healthcare services, including safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, and equity.

• Describe various strategies and models used to deliver high-quality health services across primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings.

• Analyze global data and trends on healthcare quality to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in local or national contexts.

• Identify the essential elements of health system infrastructure that support the integration and sustainability of quality initiatives.

• Apply the principles of people-centered care to enhance patient experience, including communication, dignity, respect, and shared decision-making.

• Design the foundational components of a National Quality Policy and Strategy (NQPS) that align with health system goals and stakeholder needs.

• Formulate practical quality improvement interventions using structured methodologies such as the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle or root cause analysis.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of governance structures, regulatory frameworks, and incentive models in sustaining and scaling quality of care.

• Summarize international standards, calls to action, and evidence-based recommendations that prioritize quality as a critical health system outcome.

• Use systems thinking tools and approaches to understand, analyze, and address complex challenges in healthcare quality improvement.

• Illustrate key leadership strategies and high-impact actions that influence and support quality improvement at organizational and system levels.

• Align quality improvement efforts with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals to ensure equitable access to safe, effective, and respectful care.

• Assess the strategic steps, policies, and lessons learned from Saudi Arabia’s healthcare quality transformation for potential adaptation in other contexts.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to integrate quality improvement strategies into clinical and organizational practices, contribute to national health quality agendas, and foster a culture of patient-centered care. They will gain competencies to identify gaps in service delivery, lead change through evidence-based interventions, and align efforts with broader health system and UHC objectives.