National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) and George Washington University Commit to Advancing Healthcare Quality Competency

As focus increases on healthcare quality and positive patient outcomes, the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) and the George Washington University's School of Nursing (GW Nursing) recognize that a coordinated, competent workforce begins in the classroom. The two entities have collaborated to incorporate content aligned with NAHQ's industry-standard Healthcare Quality Competency Framework into a GW School of Nursing graduate-level course titled Advancing Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety.

Furthermore, as part of GW Nursing's commitment to equipping its graduates to be better contributors and stronger job candidates, GW is working with NAHQ to prepare students to sit for the only accredited certification in the industry, NAHQ's Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) designation.

Until NAHQ developed its twice-validated competency framework, the industry offered neither a single training pathway nor an established competency standard for healthcare quality. The disparate skillsets, tools and vocabulary used to address similar problems became even more obvious at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when quality was thrust into the spotlight. These massive inconsistencies can lead to medical error and waste, negatively impacting patient outcomes and increasing operational costs for healthcare organizations. Aligning university curriculum with validated, real-world industry standards can help close that variability gap, according to Stephanie Mercado, NAHQ CEO and executive director.

"When it comes to healthcare quality competencies, a standardized education and training curriculum is a critical component of ensuring healthcare and quality professionals are ready to deliver on quality, especially in a post-COVID-19 environment," Mercado said. "By working closely with academic institutions such as George Washington University, NAHQ helps healthcare professionals enter or advance within the workforce more prepared to confront today's healthcare challenges. GW Nursing's commitment to excellence has been proven by Master's-level courses such as Advancing Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety, and NAHQ is honored to partner with an academic leader in this field."

The collaboration was a natural fit. Both GW Nursing and NAHQ believe the key to reducing variability in healthcare delivery is the reduction of variability in healthcare quality competencies, and both organizations arm individuals with the tools needed to deliver value and better patient outcomes.

"The mission of the GW School of Nursing has been, and continues to be, to prepare leaders and providers to improve the health of all people, compelled by the belief that all people deserve quality healthcare," said GW Nursing Dean Pamela Jeffries. "We value collaborating with others who are also leaders in the field committed to increasing the knowledge, skill and competencies of our future healthcare practitioners. Our collaboration with NAHQ is consistent with this and will support the advancement of our healthcare quality and patient safety academic programming. Our goal is to ensure that our students are highly competent practitioners supporting individuals, populations and the organizations where they are employed to reduce the variation in care and meet national evidence-based standards of care to achieve benchmark quality outcomes."

About NAHQ

NAHQ is the leader in healthcare quality workforce competencies and creator of the twice-validated, industry-standard Healthcare Quality Competency Framework. NAHQ provides a strategic advantage to healthcare professionals and the organizations they serve by developing and evolving workforce competencies in healthcare quality that result in better patient and financial outcomes to support the goals of healthcare value.

NAHQ offers the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, the CPHQ®, now held by more than 12,000 individuals world-wide, extensive educational programming, networking opportunities and career resources to more than 8,000 members. Learn more about NAHQ at nahq.org.

About GW Nursing

The George Washington University School of Nursing offers bachelor's, Master's, doctoral, Ph.D. and certificate programs that make it possible for our students to succeed in providing high-quality, compassionate health care. As one of the top-ranked nursing schools in the nation, GW Nursing is proud to offer innovative educational programs led by top-tier faculty, supported by the latest in health care technology. Our presence on GW's Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, allows us to offer BSN students an expansive simulation center in which to prepare for encountering live patients.

GW Nursing is also committed to transforming policy, and having graduate faculty on our campus in Washington, D.C., allows us to maintain connections to the world's most influential health organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health. Our students not only study the world but also work to improve it. And we make sure they have the resources and skills to do so.