Quality Leaders Training

The Quality Essentials 101 program is designed to support new & emerging quality leaders in healthcare organizations. Participants will engage in a virtual program that combines subject matter expertise with collaborative learning. The program aims to equip quality leaders with the foundational elements of quality improvement specific to the healthcare setting, enabling them to promote quality and drive positive change within their organizations. Participants will learn key concepts, engage in group discussions, and network with peers, providing them with the necessary skills and support to succeed in their roles.

We encourage new and emerging quality leaders, infection control, resident providers, executives, and clinical leaders to join.

Each session will include an in-depth presentation of each topic, breakout sessions and/or activities. Full program schedule will be provided to registrants closer to the start date.

Module 1 Introduction to Quality Essentials 101

• Articulate the why behind the importance of quality in healthcare
• Describe the healthcare quality landscape
• Discuss how your organization is focused on quality​

Module 2.1 & 2.2 Leading a Just Culture of Safety

• Compare punitive, non-punitive, and just cultures and apply a culpability/just culture algorithm
• Describe the role of a leader in a culture of safety and identify foundational skills for creating psychological safety and tools for assessing and developing emotional intelligence
• Summarize principles of high reliability organizing (HRO), communication and resolution programs (CRP), TeamSTEPPS, and change management

Module 3.1 & 3.2 Process Improvement

• Describe best practices for root cause analysis and distinguish between stronger, moderate, and weaker improvement actions
• Explain elements of lean process improvement and tools for data collection and mistake-proofing
• Understand the background of lean methodology, including the purpose, benefits and history, and define core principles of lean
• Explain the concept of waste and identify sources of waste
• Understand 5S Fundamentals, purpose and relation to lean
• Explain the 5S standards and how to use 5S to standardize the workplace

Module ​4.1 & 4.2 Data: From Numbers to Action

• Investigate and share quality improvement projects and concepts and your organization
• Discover how data drives and supports quality improvement
• Learn methods of data visualization that can connect the dots on quality improvement across your organization
• Understand how IT & analytics is structured and scaled
• Data limitations from the point of care through analysis​

Module 5.1 & 5.2 Population and Community Health

• Summarize “population health” as it relates to designing and monitoring quality of healthcare
• Provide examples of health disparities experienced by historically marginalized people
• Compare approaches for partnering and investing in programs to improve community health
• Explain how social drivers and health-related social needs affect patient ability to achieve optimal health outcomes

Module 6​​​​​​​​ Survey Readiness

• Identify list of standard documents and policies to have available for survey preparation and/or actual survey of facility
• ​Summarize components of a complete Corrective Action Plan for submission to a regulatory body

May 30 – October 3, 2023
8:30 – 10:30 AM PT every other Tuesday

The total cost is $1,975 per person. Program fee includes course materials and certificate of completion.

CNE, CECH, and/or ACHE credits will be awarded to interested participants.

​A digital Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants upon successful completion of the program. Successful completion of the program will be based on attendance of virtual sessions.

AMY ANDERSON, MN, BSN, CNS Director, Safety and Quality Amy has over 23 years’ experience in healthcare as a Registered Nurse including the past 13 years as an Advanced Practice Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). She obtained her Master of Nursing with a focus as a Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington School of Nursing in Bothell. Amy’s wide range of skills include developing and implementing evidence-based policies and procedures, lecturing, developing training curricula, and providing expert testimony as a nurse witness for legal review of cases. Additionally, Amy was trained as a CORE surveyor for Joint Commission International (JCI) and served as an escort/scribe, with expertise in Joint Commission and Department of Health Surveys.

ABBY BERUBE, MPH, CPHQ Director of Health Equity, Safety and Quality Abby has over a decade of experience working with academic medical institutions, community health centers, hospitals and payers to address health disparities. As part of the Northwest Safety & Quality Partnership, she designed and led a Health Equity Collaborative involving 30 hospital and health system teams across Washington and Oregon. She participates in Bree Collaborative statewide initiatives to provide guidance on screening and addressing patient social drivers of health and is committed to helping health systems dismantle systemic racism and authentically partner with communities they serve.

ALBERT FROLING, MHA Technical Product Manager    Albert is an Afghanistan Combat Veteran turned Healthcare Data Expert with 10 years of healthcare experience.  He has broad healthcare system level experience starting out as an Administrative Fellow at MultiCare Health System, Supply Chain Analytics Manager, and Technical Product Manager at WSHA.  Additional credentials include Tableau Professional Certification.

MEGAN HERMAN, MA Assistant Director, Safety and Quality Partnerships  Megan has 10 years’ experience at WSHA supporting and creating quality improvement programs for hospitals in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. As part of her work with the Northwest Safety and Quality Partnership, she designed infrastructure to deliver quality programming to 63 Oregon hospitals and support their individual strategic goals. She currently leads WSHA’s quality leader roundtable and directs a grant-funded initiative on community based substance-use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. She has expertise in a variety of healthcare quality improvement concepts and methodologies and provides resources to hospitals to address their quality challenges and achieve their goals. Megan has a certificate in Project Management and a Masters Degree in International Community Development, which included training on designing effective, community driven improvement initiatives.

CAT MAZZAWY, RN, MSN, CPPS Senior Director, Safety and Quality  Cat is an advanced practice nursing leader and Certified Professional in Patient Safety. She is a Senior Director of Safety and Quality at Washington State Hospital Association, where she leads several programs, including Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest (advance care planning), Medicaid Quality Incentive, Communication and Resolution Program, Executive Safety Academy, and is the Authorized Official for their Northwest Safety and Quality Patient Safety Organization (PSO). She draws upon nearly 25 years experience as a patient safety leader in diverse care settings, including a public hospital district, a tertiary referral center, and an integrated delivery system, and has extensive experience training healthcare leaders in just culture, root cause analysis, human factors science, and high reliability organizing. Fun fact—she was a member of the original patient safety team at WSHA which was recognized in 2010 with a John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for the development of the Safe Table Learning Collaboratives.

TINA SEERY, MHA, BSN, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, LSSBB, SANE Senior Director, Safety and Quality  Tina is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in healthcare administration, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, a Certified Professional in Patient Safety, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Lean Sensei, a Team STEPPS Master Trainer, and a trained sexual assault nurse examiner. Her clinical and operational leadership experience in emergency, clinical care and quality management spans multiple service areas over the last 28 years. She is positioned to sit for the Board of Governor’s Exam, American College of Healthcare Executives, Fellowship Credential (FACHE), in 2023. Tina is an active and engaged clinical partner supporting hospitals in our state with several key patient safety initiatives: Opioid Stewardship, in-hospital quality, Emergency Department Utilization, statewide Stroke & Cardiac Care) and serves as a trusted liaison for Lean/Six Sigma, Team STEPPs, health care clinical quality expertise, including health policy-related, legislative initiatives. She also supports state and federal partners in WSHA’s COVID-19 Response Team. Tina greatly enjoys time with family, playing tennis, golf, hiking, boating, and loving on her Great Danes. She is also actively engaged in several volunteer roles including actively participating in the WA State Chapter of ACHE as a Board Director, Appointment on the Regional Advisory Council, Chair of the Membership Committee, Chair of the Women in Healthcare Executive Network, DEI Committee Member. In 2022, she was a recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives Regent’s Award. As a first-generation Latina college graduate, Tina remains a strong advocate for educational advancement. She supports emerging healthcare professionals in our state as a Mentor with her alma mater, the University of Washington eMHA and MHA Programs and supports the Washington State Opportunity Scholar Program. She remains an active WA State Emergency Volunteer Professional and supported several Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Clinics in 2021-2022.

JESSICA SYMANK, RN, MPH, CPHQ Senior Director, Patient Safety and Quality Partnerships  Jessica has been in the healthcare industry for 26 years, leading safety and quality work for over 10 years at the local and state level. She has a background in Emergency and Critical Care nursing and is certified in the Virginia Mason Production System through Virginia Mason Franciscan Health where she worked for 14 years. Jessica has led numerous quality improvement initiatives at WSHA, including building a regional safety and quality program for the state of Oregon, building and leading workplace violence programming and infection prevention and control. Her passion is supporting rural healthcare and ensuring hospital members at all levels have the tools they need to succeed.  

BRITTANY WEINER, MS, LMFT Assistant Director, Behavioral Health  Brittany provides education and technical assistance on behavioral health program implementation and quality improvement projects. Her work includes implementation of distribution of medications for opioid use disorder, topical webinars related to behavioral health conditions, and developing resources for mental health advance directives in hospital settings. She is an experienced behavioral health leader who served in various community health settings before joining WSHA.