Course list

Organizations frequently struggle with persistent mistakes and inefficient processes, which carry substantial financial and human costs. In healthcare settings, these challenges pose even greater risks as they may compromise patient safety and outcomes. Quality improvement tools and the Model for Improvement provide powerful frameworks to create sustainable, systems-level solutions.

In this course, you will be guided through the initial phases of quality improvement (QI) projects: developing a detailed system model, identifying intervention targets, and selecting appropriate metrics to measure impact. You'll practice using visual representation tools, including process maps and driver diagrams. With the aid of these models, you'll draft concise aim statements that define QI project goals, assess root causes of existing challenges, and determine changes most likely to produce measurable outcome improvements.

For the most valuable hands-on practice, you will analyze a real-world medical office case study. By the end of this course, you'll have built vital skills to implement QI strategies in healthcare settings.

  • Nov 4, 2026
  • Jan 27, 2027
  • Apr 21, 2027

Quality improvement (QI) projects typically begin with recognizing and diagnosing a problem, followed by identifying an intervention to address the challenge. But how can you quickly determine whether your selected intervention will actually produce the desired impact? Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles provide exactly this capability.

In this course, you will go through each step of the PDSA cycle and discover why this flexible, iterative approach is so valuable for QI projects. You'll explore the essential tasks within each phase and practice designing your own cycle using a real-world medical office case study. You'll learn why professional teams are best-suited to oversee PDSA cycles and discover how to lead collaborative groups through this process. Finally, you'll explore strategies to ensure your interventions remain effective over time despite the ever-changing circumstances that impact healthcare organizations.

You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

  • Building the Foundation for Safer Care
  • Nov 18, 2026
  • Feb 10, 2027
  • May 5, 2027

Quality improvement (QI) projects generate substantial amounts of data, but raw numbers are often impossible to interpret and difficult to share with others. The key to successful QI initiatives lies not just in collecting data but also in visualizing it in ways that reveal important patterns, detect real improvements, and communicate findings effectively to stakeholders.

In this course, you will leverage essential data visualization tools that help you detect changes and draw valuable conclusions. You'll create and interpret frequency plots, Pareto charts, run charts, and statistical process control (SPC) charts using hands-on Excel exercises with real case study data. You'll discover how to distinguish between meaningful changes and normal variation in your processes, and you'll develop skills to track improvements over time. Finally, you'll explore how to use your data to expand successful pilot projects and sustain gains across larger systems.

To complete this course, you will need access to MS Excel and a basic fluency with Excel, including formatting cells, entering data, generating charts, and applying simple formulas.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

  • Building the Foundation for Safer Care
  • Leading Change for Safer Systems
  • Dec 2, 2026
  • Feb 24, 2027
  • May 19, 2027

Even a perfectly planned quality improvement (QI) initiative will stall if the organization's key decision makers do not understand or support it. Moving from a good idea to an approved project requires more than clinical evidence; it demands a compelling business case that clearly demonstrates value to leadership.

In this course, you will explore how to connect with stakeholders and decision makers and clearly explain the goals and value of your QI project. You'll identify key performance indicators to demonstrate both the financial and human value of your planned changes. Finally, you'll develop the skills to craft compelling slide decks and elevator pitches, and you'll prepare to respond confidently to tough questions and organizational constraints.

You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:

  • Building the Foundation for Safer Care
  • Leading Change for Safer Systems
  • Measuring Safety and Quality Outcomes
  • Dec 16, 2026
  • Mar 10, 2027
  • Jun 2, 2027

eCornell online Workshops are live, interactive learning experiences lasting 1 to 4 hours and led by Cornell faculty experts. These premium, short-format sessions focus on AI topics and are designed for busy professionals who want to gain immediately applicable skills and strategic perspectives. Workshops may include faculty presentations, breakout discussions, and guided hands-on practice.

The AI Workshops All-Access Pass provides you with unlimited participation for 6 months from your date of purchase. Whether you choose to attend one Workshop per month or several per week, the All-Access Pass allows you to customize your AI journey and stay on top of the latest AI trends.

Hosted by Cornell faculty at the forefront of their fields, Workshops cover a range of cutting-edge AI topics applicable across industries. Workshops are offered at three levels to allow you to choose topics that match your experience.

  • AI Foundations
    • These Workshops introduce core AI concepts, terminology, capabilities, limitations, and practical applications. No prior AI experience is required.
    • Best for: Beginners, AI-curious professionals, and teams starting their AI journey.
  • AI in Practice
    • ​​​​​​​These Workshops focus on practical skills, workflows, and strategies that help participants use AI more effectively in their day-to-day work. Some familiarity with AI tools is recommended.
    • Best for: Professionals who have experimented with AI and want to build confidence and capability.
  • AI Leadership and Transformation
    • ​​​​​​​These advanced Workshops explore emerging technologies, strategic implementation, governance, organizational impact, and specialized applications. AI fluency is expected, and some Workshops may have prerequisites.
    • Best for: AI leaders, transformation teams, executives, and advanced practitioners.

How It Works

  • Healthcare professionals responsible for leading or contributing to quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
  • Clinical leaders, physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers seeking practical quality improvement skills
  • Healthcare managers, administrators, and operations leaders responsible for improving clinical and operational performance
  • Quality, patient safety, and performance improvement professionals looking to strengthen their knowledge of the Model for Improvement and data-driven change
“I would found an institution where any person could find instruction in any study.”
{Anytime, anywhere.}
Ezra Cornell
Founder of Cornell University

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