The Department of Pediatrics values quality improvement as an integral part of modern health care and an important academic pursuit for our clinicians. In partnership with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Department sponsors Quality Academy—a year-long course that teaches quality improvement (QI) principles and science through a combination of project-based work and didactic learning—where participants develop, launch, and lead a team to complete a robust QI project focused on improving one or more priority goal areas (see the Quality Academy page for details).
Quality Academic Community is also available to residents and fellows seeking a deeper understanding of QI methodology as part of their career niche (visit the program page for more information). In addition, the Department is an American Board of Pediatrics Portfolio Sponsor and can grant MOC Part 4 credit for approved QI projects; once a project is approved, credit may be awarded to participating faculty who meet minimal requirements (see the MOC Part 4 Credit page for details).
Quality Academy
In partnership with Monroe Carell, the Department sponsors Quality Academy, a year-long program that teaches QI principles through didactics and hands-on, project-based learning for clinical and administrative leaders across VUMC. Participants lead a mentored QI project aimed at improving patient outcomes, advancing departmental goals, increasing value (reducing waste), improving efficiency, or supporting USNWR reporting. Learners use the Model for Improvement and tools such as process mapping, key driver diagrams, and run/control charts. Graduates frequently present and publish their work, and QI scholarship is recognized in the Department’s promotion criteria.
Quality Academic Community
Led by David Johnson, MD, this longitudinal program for Vanderbilt Pediatrics residents and fellows builds practical QI skills through guided, hands-on project work. Participants learn to distinguish QI from research, design and lead systems-based projects using the Model for Improvement, apply core QI tools, collect/analyze data using statistical process control (SPC), and evaluate QI literature. Members are expected to lead a team-based QI project with frequent run/control chart updates (Excel required), attend monthly 1-hour sessions, share brief project updates for feedback, and participate in peer learning between sessions. Required reading includes The Improvement Guide (Langley et al.) and Understanding Variation (Wheeler). Participants present locally and/or at regional/national meetings and are encouraged to submit projects to the Department’s ABP MOC Portfolio for Part IV credit.
To learn more about Performance Management and Improvement at Monroe Carell, visit the Quality and Patient Safety page.
Contact
David P. Johnson, MD
david.p.johnson.1@vumc.org
