Process Improvement in Health Systems

Study Process and Quality improvement in healthcare using the Model for Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and Person-centred methodologies. Enabling you to practice at the level of a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt within the Health System.



Internationally, many healthcare organisations are successfully using process and quality improvement methodologies to streamline processes, reduce cost, and most importantly improve the quality, experience of, and timely delivery of services to patients. When applied rigorously and throughout an entire healthcare organisation, improvement methodologies can have a positive impact on patients, their relatives, and staff. Although many improvement methodologies were developed in industry, health care is, in fact, a service industry, delivering care in extraordinarily complex organisations, with thousands of interacting processes. Many aspects of improvement methodologies therefore can and do apply to the processes of delivering care. Graduates of this programme have applied their learning successfully to improve experiences and outcomes for staff and patients in areas as diverse as Stroke Thrombolysis, Stroke Therapy, Patient Scheduling, Procurement, Data coding, ward and unit design, Rehabilitation, Hip Fracture Pathways, Pharmacy, Pathology, Radiology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oncology and Community Health.

Where and how is the training delivered?



Where and how is the training delivered?

The programme is currently delivered via blended learning



Half-day Graduate orientation (Trimester 1) - online via Zoom

• 5 class days (09:30 -16:30) over a 6-month period (Trimester 1/Trimester 2) - online via Zoom

• Collaborative, inclusive, and participatory team working in between class days - online via Zoom or in-person at the discretion of team members

• Assigned team mentor meetings - online via Zoom or in-person at the discretion of team mentors.



NFQ Level: 8 (10 credits)

Level: UG Certificates & Diplomas

Award: Professional Certificate

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements

To maximise their programme experience, Healthcare Professionals taking the programme as a stand-alone qualification should complete the Fundamentals of Process Improvement in Health Systems (or an equivalent introduction to healthcare process improvement principles) with the Mater Lean Academy/UCD or another accredited provider. Please contact the Mater Lean Academy for further details about this programme leansixsigma@mater.ie.



Process improvement is initialised in a project overview document known as a Project Charter. Each applicant, as part of their online application, is required to complete a Project Charter template, outlining an idea/suggestion for a process improvement idea within their specific practice area or wider organisation.

• Applicants applying as part of a team should each submit a copy of their agreed team Project Charter.

• Individual applicants should submit a copy of their individual Project Charter but will be assigned to co-led improvement teams and will collaborate on one improvement team Project Charter for the duration of the programme.

Duration

1 year part-time

Delivery: Blended

Enrolment dates

X925: Professional Certificate Process Improvement in Health Systems

Professional Certificate



Full-Time: Commencing September 2025

Undergraduate Cert and Diploma

More details
  • Qualification letters

    ProfCert

  • Attendance type

    Part time,Blended

  • Apply to

    Course provider