Learning in Practice: Collaboration Is the Way to Improve Health System Outcomes

Abstract

Evidence suggests that it is challenging for universities to develop workplace-relevant content and curricula by themselves, and this can lead to suboptimal educational outcomes. This paper examines the development, implementation, and evaluation of Australia’s first tertiary graduate course in healthcare redesign, a partnership initiative between industry and university. The course not only provides students with an understanding of person-centered sustainable healthcare but also the skills and confidence to design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve health service delivery. Increasing students’ application of new knowledge has been through work-integrated learning, a pedagogy that essentially integrates theory with the practice of workplace application within a purposely designed curriculum. The specific aim of this study was to examine the outcomes of the course after two years, utilizing an anonymous online survey of graduates. Sixty-two graduates (48%) completed the survey. Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model was used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed high satisfaction levels in relation to the course content and delivery. Through successful completion of the innovative course, students had increased their knowledge of health system redesign methods and, importantly, the ability to translate that knowledge into everyday practice. Graduates of the clinical redesign course reported that they had been able to transfer their skills and knowledge to others in the workplace and lead further improvement projects.