Course Syllabus

QuIP: Quality Improvement in Practice (93ZI760)
Syllabus 2025-2026

Contact Information

Course Director
Deanna R Wills, MD, MBA

 

 

Statewide Coordinator
Natalie Rollman, MAEd
Office Phone: 317.278.0364
Email: fammeded@iu.edu 

 

Department

Family Medicine

Office Hours

Office hours are available and by appointment. 

Description/Overview

This Lean Quality Improvement Elective is designed to give you an experience in quality improvement activities by teaching you quality improvement concepts that you will apply to a project of your own design.

The content in this elective is delivered through various teaching methods, including supervised clinical experience, small groups and lectures, and is based on current best practices within the academic discipline. Whenever possible, the material is also grounded in available literature within the academic discipline. Our goal is to prepare students for professional practice in the field of medicine. If you have any concerns, please reach out to the elective leadership or administration. 

Mode of Delivery

This course is taught through Canvas.  Assignments are due at the end of the course.  

Elective Type/Category

PD/Professional Development

Learning Objectives

1. Describe basic Quality Improvement principles (SBP5)
2. Apply those Quality Improvement principles to a project (SBP5)
3. Design and implement a Quality Improvement project in a healthcare setting using the previously learned principles (SBP5)
4. Measure the impact of that Quality Improvement project (SBP5)

Course Activities

Fully online version:

• Online learning modules 4 half days per week
• Reflective essay composition 4 half days per week
• Summative quality improvement project completion 2 half days per week
• Asynchronous and Synchronous Virtual coaching is available from course director as often as student desires

Grading Scale

Satisfactory/Fail

Course Requirements

During this 4-week elective, learners are to complete the following learning modules:

1. Introduction & Overview
2. Value and Waste
3. A3 Thinking
4. Introduction to Creating a QI Project Charter
5. Understanding the Current State
6. Creating a Future State
7. Gap Analysis
8. MedEx 5 or 6S
9. Solutions to Bridge the Gaps
10. Testing Solutions
11. Standardizing Work
12. Daily Management System (DMS)
13. Rapid Improvement Events (RIE's)
14. Putting It All Together for Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI)
15. Required Summative Assignments

After completing the module learners are to submit their "Personal Development Plan (PDP) A3" assignment and the post course reflection.

All readings and assignments are located within the "modules" navigation tab.

Grades

Formative pre-post quizzes are based on completion and post-quizzes are based on demonstrated improvement in score, not actual score. The Summative essays and project are graded.  Final grade is based on completion of all formative assessments and the grade on the summative essays and project.  

Academic Integrity

This course follows the University's policy on integrity. A copy of this policy can be found in the University's Student Handbook.

Cheating

"Dishonesty of any kind with respect to examinations, course assignments, alteration of records, or illegal possession of examinations shall be considered cheating.  It is the responsibility of the student not only to abstain from cheating but, in addition, to avoid the appearance of cheating and to guard against making it possible for others to cheat.  Any student who helps another student to cheat is as guilty of cheating as the student he or she assists." – IUPUI Academic Handbook

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the using of other's words or ideas as your own without giving credit to the original user. This is a serious offense that can result in failing grades on assignments, in classes and even in expulsion from the university or legal action. "Honesty requires that any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged.  Offering the work of someone else as one's own is plagiarism." – IUPUI Academic Handbook.  While this may be new information to you, you are expected to take care not to use ‑ intentionally or unintentionally ‑ work by others. If you have questions about how to handle a particular situation, please get in touch with me.

Disciplinary Action

Any student found engaged in cheating, aiding in cheating, plagiarism, or any other unfair practice, will be dealt with immediately and strictly according to University policies.  Only the most severe possible penalties will be applied.

Elective Policies

Attendance

You are responsible for managing your time so that you complete the expected modules and activities during the elective. Expected Average Workload: Students should expect to spend 50-60 hours per week in elective-related activities.

Professionalism

All students are to perform the requirements of the QuIP: Quality Improvement in Practice elective in a professional manner. This includes, but is not limited to, behaviors in clinical settings, timely submission of required pre-requisites for elective, issues related to HIPAA, and active participation in learning environments.

The Department of Family Medicine reserves the right to assign a failing grade for the elective if a student has performed in an unsatisfactory, unprofessional or unethical manner in terms of behavior with the community faculty, any of his/her health care team members or patients.

Consult the IUSM Mission and Vision (medicine.iu.edu/about/mission-vision-valuesLinks to an external site.) and Professional Conduct Policy (policies.medicine.iu.edu/policies/edu-cur-0009Links to an external site.) tLinks to an external site.hat provide the foundation for the culture of professionalism expected at IUSM.

Additional Learning Opportunity

Students have the option to complete the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open Course Certificate in Quality Improvement (online).

Duty Hours

40/week

Time Distribution

60% online, 40% Library/Research,

Interprofessional Skills and Service Learning

Interprofessional Collaborative Skills

Yes

Academic Support Services

Title IX syllabus statement: IU is dedicated to supporting students who are pregnant or have experienced other conditions related to pregnancy (termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, lactation, or related medical conditions). To register for accommodations due to pregnancy or a related medical condition, please contact your campus Accessible Educational Services (AES) office. Students can use the AES contact for IU Bloomington students at studentlife.indiana.edu/care-advocacy/iub-aes/index.html or the AES contact for IU Indy students at studentaffairs.indianapolis.iu.edu/care-support/accessible-educational-services/index.html. To learn about the rights and resources available to students, such as academic accommodations, please visit pregnancy.iu.edu or email ocrc@iu.edu for more information.