Quality Improvement for Pharmacy Professionals Certificate

   
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education with Commendation.

The activities are intended for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians seeking to develop their knowledge and skills in healthcare quality improvement.

Quality in the US Healthcare System and the Pharmacist's Role
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-805-H04-P & T
Application-based
1.25 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the quality challenges that exist in the United States healthcare system.
• Describe how pharmacist services can improve the quality of healthcare in the United States.
• Explain the World Health Organization's elements of quality health services and how they can be applied to evaluate an organization's healthcare services
• Explain the rationale for pharmacists' involvement in healthcare quality improvement initiatives, as well as their potential roles and responsibilities. 

Quality Improvement Methodologies, Measurement, and Communication
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-806-H04-P & T
Application-based
2.5 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle, and the purpose of each stage of the cycle.
• Apply the PDCA cycle to a pharmacy practice improvement initiative.
• Describe the fundamentals of Lean quality improvement methodology.
• Give examples of forms of waste that are applicable to pharmacy processes.
• Explain what is meant by six sigma and how it relates to improving processes.
• Describe each stage of the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) framework used to structure six sigma quality improvement initiatives.
• Explain how the objectives of Lean and Six Sigma overlap, and the benefits of utilizing both methodologies in quality improvement initiatives.
• Describe what each “S” in the 5S tool represents.
• Describe a Gemba walk and its importance in creating a culture of continuous improvement.
• Describe the use and interpretation of run charts and control charts.
• Identify common cause and special cause variation in processes.
• Summarize the importance of communication in quality improvement work.
• Explain the application of dashboards and balanced scorecards for communicating an organization's quality data.
• Describe the value of data and storytelling to drive engagement and support for quality improvements. 

Quality Improvement Tools – Part 1
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-807-H04-P & T
Application-based
1.5 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the purpose of a problem statement in a quality improvement (QI) initiative and the components of a strong problem statement.
• Create a problem statement for a QI case study.
• Describe the purpose of benchmarking and its application to quality improvement initiatives.
• Describe the purpose of value stream mapping in quality improvement initiatives.
• Explain the concepts of value-added and non-value-added process steps.
• Define the following terms related to value stream maps: cycle time, availability, quality, and uptime.
• Describe the purpose of fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams in quality improvement initiatives.
• Identify fishbone categories that are relevant to common pharmacy practice problems.
• Describe the purpose of a five whys analysis in quality improvement initiatives.
• Differentiate between symptoms and root causes when problem solving.
• Describe the purpose of quadrant charts in quality improvement initiatives.
• Select quadrant chart axis categories for comparison of potential solutions.
• Describe the purpose of process flow diagrams in quality improvement initiatives.
• Explain why it is important to diagram processes as they are actually performed, as opposed to how they are supposed to be performed.
• Identify the types of process steps frequently used in a process flow diagram. 

Quality Improvement Tools – Part 2
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-808-H04-P & T
Application-based
1.25 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the purpose of brainstorming in quality improvement projects.
• Describe the essential elements of an effective brainstorming session.
• Describe the purpose of spaghetti diagrams in quality improvement projects, including the types of waste they can be used to identify.
• Describe the purpose of affinity diagrams in quality improvement projects.
• Describe how Pareto charts are utilized in quality improvement initiatives.
• Explain the Pareto principle, also known as the “80/20 rule,” and its relevance to quality improvement.
• Describe the process of Imagineering™ and its utility in quality improvement projects.
• Describe the purpose of Gantt Charts and their application in projects.
• Describe key elements of successful Gantt Charts.
• Develop Gantt Charts for interdisciplinary departmental coordination.
• Describe the purpose of Check Sheets and their application in projects.
• Create Check Sheets to quickly gather relevant data.
• Analyze Check Sheet data. 

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and Root Cause Analysis
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-809-H04-P & T
Application-based
2.25 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the components of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
• Explain the strengths and limitations of proactive risk identification, such as FMEA.
• Apply failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) for risk identification.
• Describe a systematic approach to the identification, investigation, and assessment of medication events including methods for managing a successful institutional event reporting program.
• Explain the relationship between adverse drug events, adverse drug reactions, and medication errors.
• Contrast examples of skill-based, rule-based, and knowledge-based errors.
• Differentiate algorithms and tools available to assist in system-based investigation, assessment, and outcome classification of medication events.
• Explain the major steps and components of a root cause analysis (RCA) process.
• Compare alternative methodologies available for conducting cause analyses.
• Identify regulatory expectations for event management to protect patients, improve systems, and prevent harm. 

Fundamentals of Quality Improvement Measures
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-810-H04-P & T
Application-based
2.25 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify organizations that develop and/or endorse healthcare quality measures, as well as those that serve as resources for professionals involved in healthcare quality improvement.
• Categorize healthcare quality measures.
• Describe the ECHO model, including the three categories of outcome measures, and why it is important to healthcare research and quality improvement.
• Explain and give examples of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
• Explain the criteria for effective quality measures.
• Identify quality measure specifications.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of quality measure data sources.
• Describe the role of healthcare reimbursement policies on quality measures and reporting.
• Identify payment programs that influence healthcare quality reporting requirements.
• Describe future directions in quality improvement and measurement. 

Selected Measures for Pharmacy Professionals – Part 1
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-811-H04-P & T
Application-based
1.5 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify quality measures related to hospital-acquired infections.
• Identify quality measures related to antimicrobial stewardship.
• Identify quality measures related to opioid stewardship.
• Identify quality measures related to the safe use of opioids.
• Identify quality measures related to substance use disorder. 

Selected Measures for Pharmacy Professionals – Part 2
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-812-H04-P & T
Application-based
3.25 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify quality measures related to acute and post myocardial infarction.
• Identify quality measures related to coronary artery revascularization.
• Interpret pertinent quality measures related to heart failure.
• Interpret pertinent quality measures related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Interpret pertinent quality measures related to pneumonia.
• Identify The Joint Commission's (TJC) National Patient Safety Goals® related to the safe use of anticoagulants.
• Explain TJC's venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and stroke quality measures related to anticoagulation. 

Selected Measures for Pharmacy Professionals – Part 3
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-813-H04-P & T
Application-based
2 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify quality measures related to inpatient diabetes management.
• Identify quality measures related to outpatient diabetes management.
• Identify quality measures applicable in the community pharmacy setting.
• Identify quality measures of particular relevance to pharmacists practicing in long-term care settings.
• Identify quality measures related to patient experience of particular relevance to pharmacists. 

Utilizing Quality Improvement Data to Improve Healthcare and Patient Care Outcomes
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-814-H04-P & T
Application-based
2.75 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the value of pharmacy services in enhancing patients' quality of care across the continuum of care.
• Identify common barriers encountered by patients in accessing and receiving care and explore potential strategies to mitigate these barriers effectively.
• Identify key stakeholders within health systems and provider groups.
• Select appropriate metrics for pharmacy services within health systems.
• Describe how a balanced scorecard is used to demonstrate the value of services.
• Summarize the role of clinical pharmacy services in enhancing quality improvement efforts within fee-for-service payment models.
• Recommend strategies for successfully integrating clinical pharmacy services to optimize patient outcomes while ensuring financial sustainability within fee-for-service reimbursement frameworks.
• Explain the various value-based payment models and factors to take into account when considering establishing a relationship with a value-based contract payer.
• Describe pharmacy services that support and demonstrate value within value-based payment models.
• Explain the relevance of the social determinants of health (SDOHs) and health-related social needs (HRSNs) to pharmacy practice.
• Identify opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to address health disparities.
• Explain the types of, and calculation for, return on investment as a means to demonstrate the need for, and value of, quality improvement initiatives to stakeholders. 

Establishing a Pharmacy Quality Improvement Program
ACPE: 0204-0000-24-815-H04-P & T
Application-based
2.5 contact hours 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify expected components of a pharmacy quality program per the ASHP Center of Excellence in Medication-Use Safety and Pharmacy Practice program.
• Give examples of quality indicators that may be measured through a pharmacy quality program.
• Identify the attributes of leaders that effectively support quality improvement (QI).
• Explain key drivers to creating and sustaining a culture of QI and safety.
• Describe how the core principles of a learning health system support a culture of continuous quality improvement.
• Describe why a collaborative, team-based approach is essential to successful quality improvement initiatives.
• Explain the roles of professionals involved in planning, implementing, monitoring, and supporting quality improvement initiatives in health systems.
• Identify quality measures (QMs) applicable to the pharmacy department.
• Prioritize QMs for the pharmacy department.
• Develop a plan to integrate the pharmacy department's QM's into the organization-wide quality improvement program and engage key stakeholders.

In accordance with our accreditor’s Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ASHP requires that all individuals in control of content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if they have had a financial relationship with ineligible company in any dollar amount in the past 24 months and the educational content that the individual controls is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.

An ineligible company is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The presence or absence of relevant financial relationships will be disclosed to the activity audience.

• No one in control of the content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship (RFR) with an ineligible company. 

As defined by the Standards of Integrity and Independence definition of ineligible company.

Each activity consists of audio, video, and/or PDFs and evaluations. Learners must review all content and complete the evaluations to receive continuing pharmacy education credit for each activity.

Follow the prompts to claim, view, or print the statement of credit within 60 days after completing the activity. 

Important Note – ACPE 60 Day Deadline:

Per ACPE requirements, CPE credit must be claimed within 60 days of being earned. To verify that you have completed the required steps and to ensure your credits have been reported to CPE Monitor, check your NABP profile account to validate that your credits were transferred successfully before the ACPE 60-day deadline. After the 60-day deadline, ASHP will no longer be able to award credit for this activity. 

ASHP PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES℠ contain learning activities that are ACPE-accredited knowledge and application-based continuing education. This is not an ACPE Certificate Program. Upon successful completion of the activities, the learner will be able to download an ASHP Professional Certificate.