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IHI Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program

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The health and well-being of the IHI community is our top priority. Please read IHI's COVID-19 mask and vaccination policy before registering for any IHI program, course, or conference with an in-person component.
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Effective and lasting improvement is usually brought about through a committed team effort. But that effort should be guided by the steady hand of someone whose expertise and experience with improvement work increases the team's potential for success.
 
The Improvement Advisor (IA) is devoted to helping identify, plan, and execute improvement projects throughout an organization, deliver successful results, and spread changes across the entire system. Organizations that achieve multiple and sustained improvements usually have the invaluable leadership of an IA at the helm of their improvement initiatives. Most health care organizations turn to internal resources for improvement leadership, but in many cases, there is no one with the required training, expertise, and support to perform this role. In fact, individuals with the necessary skills to serve as IAs are relatively rare. 

To effectively meet the demands of the job, IAs need more than just an interest in improvement work. They need a solid foundation, advanced knowledge and skills in the art and science of improvement, plus the ability to work with and coach front-line teams in achieving and maintaining successful changes. IAs must also be able to communicate effectively with senior management to summarize progress on improvement projects and clearly articulate needed sponsorship and support when projects stall.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in conjunction with Associates in
Process Improvement (API), offers the long-running Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program to help individuals in this critical role build and hone such skills. This richly-packed, 10-month program is an “all teach, all learn” experience that offers:
  • The advanced knowledge and skills you need to excel in the art and science
    of improvement
  • Instruction on how to use a framework comprising practical skills and
    theory to drive whole system changes
  • A collaborative learning environment and actionable ideas that will help you
    achieve maximum results
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PROGRAM DESIGN AND FOCUS

Each participant is required to direct one or more improvement projects (connected to her or his organization’s business plan) during the program. The project provides a double benefit — a chance to achieve results in an active improvement project and a living laboratory to apply learning. The improvement project may be in any one of three categories:
  • Improving quality of care and services
  • Reducing costs while maintaining or improving quality
  • Expanding patient or customer satisfaction with the development of new
    services or innovative ways of providing existing services
The design of this program allows participants to achieve maximum results by immediately applying the skills they learn to everyday work situations.
It is this combination of theory applied to daily work that makes the Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program unique and provides a foundation for making improvements long after the program is completed.

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE

​Due to the intensity of this program and the work on real improvement projects for the client organizations, the class size is limited. 

Registration and pre-program assessments are currently being accepted on a rolling admission. This program usually fills up fast, we, therefore, encourage interested participants to register and send in their pre-program assessments as soon as possible. ​

Pre-Program Assessments:
Please refer to the Glossary of Terms to complete the self-assessment and read the Improvement Project Selection Guide​ for more information on appropriate project criteria and guidelines.

Please email the completed IA Application and the IA Knowledge and Self-Assessment Form to:​

Elena Origlio, Associate Project Manager

Email: improvementprograms@ihi.org​

Phone: +1 617-391-9946