Middle Tennessee State University Collaborates with NAHQ to Expand Graduate Program

Middle Tennessee State University Collaborates with NAHQ to Expand Graduate Program

Healthcare Management Studies Slated to Include HQ Principles

CHICAGO and MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Oct. 13, 2022) – Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the National Association for Healthcare Quality^® (NAHQ) have collaborated to hardwire NAHQ’s quality and safety principles as content in the university’s 2023 graduate coursework. The course, “Healthcare Quality and Accountability for Leaders,” will be available to Master of Business Administration in healthcare management students in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU.

“Our post-COVID-19 environment has prioritized quality and safety across the healthcare industry,” said NAHQ Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Mercado, CAE, CPHQ. “More than ever, professionals in both clinical and non-clinical settings are becoming aware of how inconsistencies in the training and education process can lead to medical error, negatively impact patient outcomes, and increase operational waste for healthcare facilities and systems. NAHQ is committed to partnering with universities that are preparing healthcare leaders to address the vital need for consistent quality principles which are foundational to problem solving in healthcare.”   

“Collaboration with NAHQ and incorporating its competency-based content into the healthcare concentration curriculum of MTSU’s MBA program provides students with a clear advantage in career preparation,” added Richard J. Tarpey, DBA, assistant professor of management, Jones College of Business at MTSU. “Quality is a critical component of healthcare services careers, so we are excited to provide students with nationally recognized content to develop quality expertise to meet the increasing demand within the field. Given the position of the Middle Tennessee region as a significant hub of healthcare services, our students will have tremendous opportunities to secure and advance their careers. Our vision is to continuously improve our curriculum to incorporate content leading students to earn NAHQ certificates and CPHQ certifications in the future.”

NAHQ’s HQ Principles introduces quality and safety principles, methodologies, and concepts that enable healthcare quality and safety professionals to expand their knowledge and integrate quality into practice settings. The online course features:

• Tools for Quality Improvement Projects
• Case Studies on Healthcare Improvement Projects and Use of Quality Tools Across the Care Continuum
• Information on Data Visualization Tools
• Downloadable Participant Workbook

About NAHQ

The National Association for Healthcare Quality^® (NAHQ) is the only organization dedicated to healthcare quality pros, defining the standard of excellence for the profession, and equipping professionals and organizations across the continuum of healthcare to meet these standards. NAHQ believes that to reduce variability in healthcare delivery, we must first reduce variability in healthcare quality competencies, so we focus our efforts on healthcare quality competencies and workforce development. NAHQ published the first and only Healthcare Quality Competency Framework and validated it twice in the market. We offer the only accredited certification in healthcare quality, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality^® (CPHQ), extensive educational programming, networking opportunities and career resources to help healthcare quality professionals enhance their competencies and their value. Learn more at NAHQ.org.

About Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., embraces its role as a top destination of choice for Tennessee undergraduates while expanding its reach nationally and internationally through signature programs and select master’s and doctoral programs. The university generates, preserves, and disseminates knowledge and innovation and uses scholarship to enhance teaching and public service. The university is committed to preparing students to thrive in their chosen professions and a changing global society. With an enrollment of about 20,000 students, it is the No. 1 producer of graduates for the Greater Nashville economy, has been named the Princeton Review’s list of the Best 388 Colleges in the U.S. four years in a row, and is also the top destination for transfer students in Tennessee. Learn more at mtsu.edu.

Media Contacts

Maureen Daugherty (mdaugherty@nahq.org)

Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)