Continuous Quality Improvement Policy

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (COM – P), under the guidance of the Curriculum Committee and in collaboration with director, accreditation, continuously engages in ongoing quality improvements of all college policies, programs, and processes to ensure the achievement of the mission and the effective monitoring of the medical education program’s compliance with accreditation standards. 

Process

Such improvement initiatives, while far-reaching in scope, include a focus on planning and continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes undertaken to optimize the medical education program’s 1) response to evolving resources and knowledge bases, and 2) compliance with all accreditation standards.

The director, accreditation is responsible for managing the process, as well as receiving and analyzing relevant data. Standing committees and senior administrators within the college contribute to the monitoring effort, and additional associated personnel provide coordination and support the process. 

The vice dean undergraduate medical education ensures that appropriate resources are allocated for these activities, including personnel, information technology systems, and infrastructure for the collecting and reporting of data. 

Areas for monitoring and/or improvement are identified from the following categories: 

1. Elements that have been cited as “not in compliance” or “compliance with monitoring” during previous accreditation visits.
2. New elements or elements in which Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) expectations have evolved (as communicated through Association of American Medical Colleges meetings, the LCME website, or other communication from the secretariats).
3. Elements that are affected by review or changes to COM – P policies.
4. Elements that explicitly require regular monitoring or relate to regularly occurring processes.
5. Other components brought forth as a result of the program evaluation process, and items brought forward to the Curriculum Committee as areas of concern from the faculty or students, including results of institutional or national surveys such as internal questionnaires, student feedback surveys, and the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire.

Monitoring of specific elements and data is accomplished with a work plan that indicates the details being monitored, appropriate time intervals, and the group responsible. The work plan is presented every six months to the Dean’s Executive Leadership Team. 

The director, accreditation is a resource member on the Curriculum Committee, Block, Course and Theme Subcommittee, Clinical Curriculum Subcommittee, Assessment and Evaluation Subcommittee, and the Program Evaluation Subcommittee. Relevant areas of the work plan are presented at least every six months, and as needed.