Academy of Quality Improvement Sciences

Engage in a journey of learning as Acute Care Alberta (ACA) pursues system level transformation toward high quality, safe, reliable clinical services and excellence in patient and family experience.

The Academy of Quality Improvement Sciences (AQuIS) offers various certificate programs to all Alberta healthcare staff and external learners related to patient safety and quality improvement. Each learning stream should be taken in the recommended order to help you build a strong foundation as you work towards the completion of a certificate.

ON THIS PAGE:
Where To Start | Registration | Required Learning | Learning Streams | Contact

Where Do I Start?

  • Start with 100 level courses. Entry to both the Patient Safety (PS) and Quality Improvement (QI) streams begins at the 100 level and is open to anyone working in healthcare in any role.
  • Build progressively. Patient Safety Level 1 and 2 build on foundational concepts and the Quality Improvement Certificate supports applied improvement work.
  • Specialized learning for clinical roles. The Disclosure (Intermediate) stream is designed primarily for clinical professionals and leaders involved in communicating with patients and families following unexpected outcomes.
  • Flexible learning formats. All Patient Safety and Quality Improvement courses are offered through blended delivery, including live Zoom sessions or facilitated, work at your own pace asynchronous learning.

Registration

To register:

  • Internal learners can navigate to MyLearningLink (Insite access required) and search AQuIS.
  • External learners can email us at qpse@acutecarealberta.ca for assistance with course registration.

Required Learning

A Culture of Patient Safety for Clinical Service Delivery Team Members eLearning module has been designated as required learning for all professional and non-professional employees working in clinical service areas and is optional for employees working in non-clinical service areas of the healthcare organizations.

PPS100: A Culture of Patient Safety is required learning for physicians, leaders and everyone in quality and patient safety positions throughout the healthcare organizations. This course is accredited.

Visit the Quality & Patient Safety Education playlist to view more videos in this series.

Note: These will not automatically update in MyLearningLink as an ROL. Search AQuIS and register in the course that is appropriate for your role.

Learning Streams

AQuIS offers a variety of educational streams to support you with patient safety and quality improvement courses. Visit AQuIS Curriculum to view the course outlines.

The Foundational Patient Safety Stream builds the knowledge and practical skills healthcare professionals need to deliver safer care and reduce preventable harm. Through five progressive courses, learners strengthen their understanding of safety culture, communication, teamwork, and risk-based improvement.

Patient Safety - Level 1

The Patient Safety Certificate - Level 1 builds a shared understanding of patient safety culture, communication, and teamwork practices that support safe, coordinated, and reliable care.

  • PPS100 A Culture of Patient Safety - Build a shared safety mindset and recognize how your role contributes to safer patient outcomes. Prerequisite for both patient savety certificate levels.
  • PPS101 Communication for Patient Safety - Strengthen communication practices that support safe, coordinated care.
  • PPS102 Teamwork for Patient Safety - Work more effectively within teams to support safer, more reliable care.

It is recommended that you complete the Patient Safety Certificate - Level 1 before taking Level 2.

Patient Safety - Level 2

The Patient Safety Certificate - Level 2 is made up of two project-based courses. If you consider yourself a new or emerging leader, both certificates are strongly recommended.

  • PPS103 Patient Safety Risks & Hazards - Learn how to systematically identify, assess, and respond to patient safety risks and hazards within a healthcare organization.
  • PPS104 Advancing Patient Safety Improvement - Builds on the content from PPS103. Build confidence in using data to drive meaningful, measurable safety improvements.

The Intermediate Patient Safety Stream supports healthcare leaders in developing the skills and confidence to communicate openly and compassionately following unexpected outcomes.

  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Teams - This course establishes a shared foundation for effective disclosure conversations. Prerequisite for the Leaders course.
  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Leaders - Build confidence guiding transparent, compassionate disclosure aligned with organizational expectations.

From insight to improvement. The Quality Improvement Certificate provides foundational knowledge and practical tools to support improvement work in healthcare settings. Learners develop confidence recognizing improvement opportunities, using data, and communicating improvement ideas effectively.

  • PQI100 Foundations of Quality Improvement - Develop a practical understanding of quality improvement concepts and how they apply within the healthcare system. Prerequisite.
  • PQI101 Developing Knowledge & Skills in Quality Improvement - Build hands-on quality improvement skills through a modular, supported learning experience.
    • Module 1 - QI Opportunities - Learn how to recognize and define meaningful quality improvement opportunities within your work setting.
    • Module 2 - Developing Data Literacy for QI - Build confidence interpreting data to inform improvement decisions.
    • Module 3 - Sharing an Improvement Idea - Learn how to engage stakeholders and build support for change.

The AQuIS curriculum is approved and accredited by both the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) as outlined below.

CFPC: Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Teams
    • This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 8 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits.
  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Leaders
    • This activity has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 3.75 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits.

RCPSC: Maintenance of Certification Program (MOC)

  • Foundations of Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Program
    • This activity is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3). You may claim a maximum of 36 hours (6 hours per course).
      • PPS100 A Culture of Patient Safety: 6 hours
      • PPS101 Communication for Patient Safety: 6 hours
      • PPS102 Teamwork for Patient Safety: 6 hours
      • PPS103 Patient Safety Risks & Hazards: 6 hours
      • PPS104 Advancing Patient Safety Improvement: 6 hours
      • PQI100 Foundations of Quality Improvement: 6 hours
  • PQI101 Developing Knowledge & Skills in Quality Improvement
    • This activity is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3). You may claim a maximum of 12 hours (4 hours per course).
      • Module 1 - QI Opportunities: 4 hours
      • Module 2 - Developing Data Literacy for QI: 4 hours
      • Module 3 - Sharing an Improvement Idea: 4 hours
  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Teams
    • This activity is an Accredited Simulation Activity (Section 3). You may claim a maximum of 6 hours.
  • Communicating Unexpected Outcomes - Disclosure Skills for Leaders
    • This activity is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3). You may claim a maximum of 4 hours.

Contact

Email Quality & Patient Safety Education (QPSE) at qpse@acutecarealberta.ca.