UF College of Medicine Quality and Patient Safety initiative courses available now for health care professionals, educators, and trainees
In an exciting development for health care professionals, educators, and trainees, the University of Florida College of Medicine Quality and Patient Safety initiative, or QPSi, has announced the launch of its continuing medical education, or CME, courses.
Centered on the QPSi mission to pioneer AI-enhanced quality and patient safety innovations to optimize health care delivery, these courses are now available for free to all, providing an incredible opportunity for health care professionals to further enhance their knowledge of quality improvement and patient safety.
Reflecting the evolution of a multi-year partnership between the College of Medicine and the UF College of Education’s E-Learning, Technology, and Communications department, these courses were made possible by leveraging a learner-focused instructional design model. Expert instructors have created these free online courses, covering leadership, professional training, and implementation science, all aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Multimodal coursework engages participants and provides flexibility for working health care professionals. Interactive content spanning topics such as clinical practice improvement, team science, AI applications in modern medicine, and more can help participants enhance clinical decision-making.
Below are some of the featured courses on the CloudCME platform:
Best Practices in Patient Blood Management: Strategies for Optimal Patient Care
Course instructor: Marc Zumberg, M.D.andThorston Haas, M.D.
Discover how Patient Blood Management can enhance patient outcomes, minimize complications, and reduce healthcare costs by optimizing a patient’s own blood. Learn evidence-based strategies to manage anemia, reduce bleeding, and improve recovery in line with WHO recommendations.
Team Up for Success: Enhancing Healthcare Outcomes through Interprofessional Collaboration
Course instructor: Amy Blue, Ph.D. and Charles Crescioni, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.
This course teaches the value and implementation of interprofessional teamwork in healthcare, focusing on patient outcomes and provider well-being. Learners will explore key concepts and tools from team science to enhance communication, leadership, and team effectiveness.
Palliative Care — Assessing and Managing Symptoms in Serious Illness
Course instructor: Paige Barker, M.D.
This course on palliative care aims to equip clinicians with the necessary tools to enhance patient-centered care through better symptom management, acknowledging the critical role of safe opioid prescribing due to the commonality of pain in serious illnesses. It also addresses the risks associated with polypharmacy, given the complex medication regimens often required by these patients.
Sustainability in Healthcare
Course instructor: Lauren Berkow, M.D.
This course explores the impact of healthcare on the environment, emphasizing sustainability in hospitals. Learn how sustainable practices improve patient and staff well-being, reduce carbon footprints, cut costs, and address supply shortages exacerbated by the pandemic.
Interprofessional Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: Root Cause Analysis
Course instructor: John Malaty, M.D.
This course covers essential steps in conducting a Root Cause Analysis in response to a patient safety issue. Topics include choosing an effective team, describing events, identifying and addressing root causes, and measuring improvements.
Clinician Well-Being: Promoting Professional Fulfillment in the Healthcare Setting
Course instructors: Lisa Merlo Greene, Ph.D., M.P.E.
This course teaches strategies to enhance clinician well-being and professional fulfillment. It examines stress factors in health care and individual risks. Lessons focus on improving culture, reducing inefficiencies, and accessing support for better professional fulfillment.
These courses and more are now available for enrollment and to earn CME credit.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY INITIATIVE
Damarys Santacoloma, M.S., graduated from Florida International University with a B.A. in philosophy and an M.S. in marketing. Before joining the University of Florida’s College of Medicine as the communications manager for the Quality and Patient Safety Initiative, or QPSi, she worked in a variety of fields, including the nonprofit sector, the startup space and in higher education, previously serving as the communications manager for UF Online. Her skills range from email marketing and customer relationship management, or CRM, to digital and print content creation and website maintenance. Now in her current role, Damarys assists in creating a communications strategy for the QPSi with an omnichannel approach in order to increase the initiative’s reputation and brand awareness.
