About Us
At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, we strongly believe in and foster a culture of continuous improvement (CI) and ongoing self-study of the medical education program. Continuous improvement is essential for ensuring that the quality of the medical education program is effectively monitored and enhanced to support a culture of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, physicians, and our healthcare partners. By embracing a proactive approach to continuous improvement, we aim to uphold high standards in medical education and compliance with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation standards.
Mission
To cultivate an environment that engages in continuous assessment and improvement processes that support the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV’s vision to deliver high-quality education, research, and clinical care that aligns with community, University, and the Liaison for Medical Education’s (LCME) standards and strategic goals.
What is continuous improvement?
We define continuous improvement as the deliberate, progressive, and incremental improvement of processes, operations, and safety measures that are responsive to educational, community, and patient needs.
Who is involved in continuous improvement?
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is committed to a culture of improvement, and everyone is a stakeholder when it comes to continuous improvement processes. Please share your improvement ideas; we value your feedback.
If you have any questions, please contact our accreditation and continuous quality improvement (CQI) manager, Angelina Sioco, at angelina.sioco@unlv.edu.
What drives CI at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine?
Key Elements
- Accountability
- Driven by good management practices. Not crisis-driven.
- Driven by input from all levels of staff and stakeholders.
- Teamwork
- Continuous review of progress per the timeline established.
Goals
- Guide quality operations/improvements
- Ensure safe environment and high-quality of services
- Meet external standards and regulations
- Assist programs and services to meet educational program objectives
Internal and External Benefits
- Improved accountability
- Improved morale
- Defined and refined processes
- Flexibility to adapt
- Enhances information management – delivery, tracking, and documentation
- Means to determine and track effectiveness
- Lends itself to enhance and design new programs and/or program components
- Allows for creative/innovative solutions
How It Works
The CI working committee consists of the CI steering committee and four CI teams. The CI teams along with the accreditation and CQI manager are responsible for initiating a formal 5-step CI assessment plan: Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA), Check and Report.
Step One: Plan
Identify a need/issue/problem and define the problem. Set expectations, develop assessment methods and criteria for success.
Step Two: Do
Define the current situation. Break down problems into parts, identify major problem areas, and develop target improvement goals.
Step Three: Study
Analyze the standard/issue/endeavor/problem. Identify the ignitor or root causes of the problem.
Step Four: Act
Develop an action plan. Outline ways to correct the root causes of the problem, specific actions to be taken, identify who, what, when, and where. The process.
Step Five: Check and Report
Examine the results. Identify if the target has been met and display/share the results and/or confirm if the problem and its root causes have decreased. Communicate results to stakeholders.