Curriculum Rationale and Courses
Graduates of this 36 credit degree program will be the first of their kind in New York State fully-prepared to employ the critical, strategic thinking and analytical skills currently needed in healthcare to identify, develop, implement and measure effective health care quality, health care risk management and patient safety initiatives. Graduates will serve as leaders in patient safety, healthcare quality, healthcare risk management, and related fields. They will learn how to conduct proactive failure mode effects analysis, promote effective communication techniques, develop and evaluate innovative risk management tools, utilize and implement best-practices and "lessons learned" from High Reliability Organizations in error prevention and risk mitigation , oversee adverse event analysis, carry out disclosure and critical conversations, implement and evaluate rapid response systems, plan, measure and improve processes, be change agents to improve the safety culture and develop cutting edge quality and patient safety improvement initiatives to improve patient centered care outcomes, reduce medical error and assist in the delivery of high quality, efficient, effective and safe healthcare.
At this time there is no organization that accredits a master‘s degree program of this type. In lieu of professional accreditation the curriculum was submitted to the organization that administers the Certified Patient Safety Officer (CPSO) examination and grants certification. The organization deemed the curriculum to be so comprehensive that it waived all other eligibility requirements for the CPSO examination, meaning graduates will be eligible upon graduation to sit for the CPSO examination leading to certification.
The CPSO exam addresses topics that cut across the continuum of patient care. The exam focuses on culture, communication, patient safety goals, sound practices, and coordination of patient safety-related initiatives to leverage the experiences of the degree program‘s anticipated multidisciplinary student population, exposing the students to the multifaceted problems and solutions in patient safety. CPSO exam applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the concepts required to manage, lead, coordinate, develop, implement, or support the patient safety function. Those earning this certification should become a champion and catalyst for change within their healthcare organizations. The CPSO credential complements other healthcare related designation in areas such as risk management, quality improvement, infection control, and healthcare safety. Senior leaders are highly encouraged to earn this CPSO credential and help other organizational leaders establish a true safety culture.
*PLEASE NOTE* This is a part-time program offering on-site evening classes only*
