Online Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Online Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
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Designed for healthcare professionals who wish to examine advanced patient care topics, this graduate-level online certificate program offers a survey of patient safety and healthcare quality competencies. This program may be ideal for current professionals working in areas such as healthcare management, administration, public health, nursing and more.
You will focus on one course at a time and cover specific skills and topics in healthcare quality and patient safety. Whether you are a nurse or a healthcare administrator, this certificate can give you the opportunity to add value to your career by demonstrating your commitment to healthcare excellence.
At GCU, you can pursue higher education with confidence, knowing that you are attending an accredited university. We have been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Online: $600 per credit [More Info]
The University will accept one course of the total certificate requirements in transfer.
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, retrieved on Nov. 8, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Medical and Health Services Managers, as of May 2023, retrieved on Nov. 8, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as medical and health services managers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
3 Mitchell, P.H. (2008, April). Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2024.
4 National Association for Healthcare Quality. (n.d.). CPHQ Certification. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2024.
If you’re considering earning your patient safety and healthcare quality certificate, browse through our frequently asked questions for career-related insight.
Quality care is described in terms of how successful a healthcare institution is in providing care that meets its standards and expectations. The foundation of quality care includes care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable.3
Patient safety refers to preventing harm to patients in a healthcare setting. This means establishing a system that prevents errors, learns from errors and promotes a culture of safety among healthcare professionals, organizations and patients.3
It’s imperative that a healthcare organization have professionals who are constantly analyzing, studying and working to improve patient safety and healthcare quality outcomes.
An online healthcare quality and patient safety certificate program may be worth it for you if you’re currently a healthcare professional who is interested in exploring advanced competencies for your work. The opportunity to improve your skill set may position you to potentially pursue career advancement or make a lateral transition.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health services managers had a median annual wage of $110,680 in May 2023.2
There is an expectation that job growth in this field will continue. The BLS estimates job growth for medical and health services managers to be about 29% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of about 160,600 jobs in the field.1
The CPHQ designation is the only accredited certification for healthcare quality and patient safety. To gain certification, you must pass the CPHQ examination that measures your knowledge and understanding of healthcare safety and quality practices. This exam is offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ).4 The graduate certificate in healthcare quality and patient safety is not a certification, but rather, it is a certificate program that teaches advanced competencies.
If you’re a working professional in the healthcare field, such as a nurse, then earning a graduate-level credential in healthcare quality and patient safety can be a great choice. This is particularly true if you’re committed to promoting good patient outcomes, reducing the risk of medical mistakes and interested in positioning yourself for potential career advancement.
While this program does not lead directly to a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or other certifications, it teaches you a specialized skill set in healthcare quality and patient safety. You will have opportunities to build your knowledge and hone your skills that can help you make a positive impact in healthcare.
This healthcare-focused certificate program may prove to be valuable for a range of professionals, including facility managers and medical and health services managers.
Annual median wage of medical and health services managers as of May 20232
By completing your graduate certificate in healthcare quality and patient safety online, you have the flexibility and convenience to work through the coursework at any time, from almost anywhere. This program was created with the scheduling needs and time constraints of working professionals in mind. As an online student, you can also benefit from a range of online resources.
During this certificate program, you will explore various topics important to the understanding and implementation of healthcare quality initiatives and patient safety practices.
These topics include:
Nationally recognized expectations and metrics for quality
Different approaches to support quality improvement measures
Methods to track, assess, analyze and review patient safety data
Project management models and approaches in healthcare
Skills to mitigate obstacles in healthcare project management and quality improvement
Technologies that support clinical decision-making for patient safety
Offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, this certificate in healthcare quality and patient safety can enable you to explore healthcare research methods in-depth and reflect upon the principles and best practices in health system quality improvement. You will have the opportunity to equip yourself with the advanced knowledge that can truly make a difference in patient outcomes within your organization. You’ll also receive the benefit of faith-integrated courses that examine the Christian worldview and promote professional ethics and servant leadership.
Estimated number of new jobs opening for medical and health services managers from 2023 to 20331
