In this episode, Dr. Michelle Mlinac and I talk about the importance and application of quality improvement in geropsychology.
Michelle Mlinac, PsyD, ABPP, is a staff psychologist at VA Boston Healthcare System and an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For the past ten years, Dr. Mlinac has worked in HBPC at VA Boston, providing clinical services to home-bound older adults and their families. She supervises graduate students, interns, and fellows in geropsychology practice. Dr. Mlinac is board-certified in clinical geropsychology and serves on the executive board of the American Board of Geropsychology. Her research has been in the areas of decision-making capacity, integrated care, and geropsychology training.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this episode, listeners will be able to:
1. Describe the key principles of quality improvement in healthcare.
2. Explain the importance of quality improvement in geropsychology.
3. Describe the benefits of doing quality improvement in healthcare.
4. Identify the differences between research and quality improvement.
5. Identify avenues for training in quality improvement.
Resources and websites discussed in today’s episode:
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement: http://www.ihi.org/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Performance Management & Quality Improvement Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/performance/index.html
- MAHC 10 – Fall Risk Assessment Tool: https://www.homecaremissouri.org/projects/falls/documents/Oct2012FINALValidatedFallriskassessmenttool.pdf
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration – Quality Improvement Training Module: https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/quality/toolbox/508pdfs/qualityimprovement.pdf
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – Improving Primary Care Practice: https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/prevention-chronic-care/improve/index.html
- The Public Health Foundation – Quality Improvement Resources: http://www.phf.org/focusareas/performancemanagement/toolkit/Pages/PM_Toolkit_Quality_Improvement.aspx
- VA Geriatric Scholars Program: https://www.gerischolars.org/mod/page/view.php?id=677
- VA’s Quality Enhancement Research Initiative: https://www.queri.research.va.gov/
- Bonin, L. (2018). Quality improvement in health care: The role of psychologists and psychology. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 25(3), 278-294.
- McQuaid, E. L., Aosved, A. C., & Belanger, H. G. (2018). Integrating research into postdoctoral training in health service psychology: Challenges and opportunities. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 12(2), 82-89.
- Health Service Psychology Education Collaborative. (2013). Professional psychology in health care services: A blueprint for education and training. American Psychologist, 68(6), 411-426.
- American Psychological Association (2009). Criteria for the evaluation of quality improvement programs and the use of quality improvement data. American Psychologist, 64(6), 551-557.
- Knight, B. G., Karel, M. J., Hinrichsen, G. A., Qualls, S. H., & Duffy, M. (2009). Pikes peak model for training in professional geropsychology. American Psychologist, 64(3), 205-214.
- Pikes Peak Self Evaluation Tool (available on GeroCentral): https://gerocentral.org/competencies/