Operationalizing Quality

Check Back for Spring 2025 Dates

Have you ever wanted to create change but don't know where to start? The OPXtra (pronounced opextra) webinar series will help! 

Key features of the program: 

  • Keen focus on healthcare improvement
  • Designed for quick and effective knowledge at a compelling price
  • Your choice--the sessions you want 
  • OPX Badge of Achievement available if you attend 3 webinars

Who Should Attend?

Clinical & operational leaders responsible for service delivery at their health care organization: 

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Therapists 
  • Healthcare administrators
  • Service line leaders
  • Health IT specialists/analysts 
  • Integrated delivery system administrators 

Schedule Example

You may select one, three or all six sessions. Refer to fees and registration instructions below. 

Topic Series  Presenter 
Ideation for Healthcare  Design Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, MFA 
Agile & Scrum  Design  Michael Anderson, MSIS, CSSMBB
Design Thinking  Design  Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, MFA 
Play at Work (Bonus Session)  Design Maribeth Kradel-Weizel, MFA 
Is Your Quality Culture Enough? System  Andrew Wierzbieniec, MHSA  
Industry Still Loves Lean Six Sigma  System Leigh Elko, MS, LSSGB, PMP, RRT
Baldridge Requires a Commitment to Quality System Andrew Wierzbieniec, MHA 

All sessions 12 pm - 1 pm EST. 

JCPH is partnering with Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce to focus on the fundamentals: design to address patient safety, equity, efficiency and quality.  All sessions are accessible and recordings are available for registered participants. 

Design Series

How might you prioritize creativity in your work?

 

Learn to recognize opportunities to leverage creativity by bringing novel and valuable insights into everyday situations. Explore your own relationship with creative to better cultivate a confident and flexible mindset and lead with curiosity. 

Participants will: 

  • Explore critical thinking skills when framing opportunities and solving problems 
  • Activiate creative aptitude through personal reflection and examination of biases about creativity. 
Presenter

Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, MFA is Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and serves as both founding Director of the MS Health Communication Design program at Thomas Jefferson University and founding Director of the university’s Creativity Core Curriculum. She has lectured internationally on design thinking and interdisciplinary pedagogy.

How do you make rapid improvements while achieving consensus?

 

Learn to move fast and create change safely. It requires putting the patients' and clinicians' needs at the center and building from that viewpoint. Take a page from the world of technology and AI, healthcare can adopt these principles for interprofessional and team-driven results. 

Participants will: 

  • Review the principles of Agile and Scrum and apply them to healthcare 
  • Design projects that demonstrate those priniciples in healthcare operations 
Presenter

Michael Anderson, MSIS, CSSMBB is the director of operations at Jefferson Methodist Hospital. In this role he is responsible to provide oversight and consultation for execution of initiatives within quality/safety, patient satisfaction and finance and to devise efficiency strategies and quality control improvement plans conducive to growth and profitability. 

How do you reframe your perspective?

 

Artificial intelligence, automation and the blurring of digital, biological, and physical worlds have brought change of an expotential scale unlike anything humanity has ever seen. The change is rapid, broad in scope and systemic. Design Thinking begins your journey to respond to that change. 

Participants will: 

  • Formulate new insights through unexpected connections across disciplines, perspectives and contexts
  • Devise effective strategies for individual and/or collaborative creative production
Presenter

Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, MFA  is Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and serves as both founding Director of the MS Health Communication Design program at Thomas Jefferson University and founding Director of the university’s Creativity Core Curriculum. She has lectured internationally on design thinking and interdisciplinary pedagogy.

 

How can play service as a catalyst for innovation?

 

The act of play heightens optimism, energy, joy, memorable experiences, and is an essential part of a fulfilling and well life. Play is a catalyst for creativity and innovation and can exist in unexpected situations. Learn about the power of play from the co-creator of Jefferson’s experimental, interdisciplinary course, Design of Play.

Participants will: 

  • Explore the value of play in the work environment.
  • Consider strategies to support innovation by activating the principles of play

Presenter

Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel, MFA  is Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and serves as both founding Director of the MS Health Communication Design program at Thomas Jefferson University and founding Director of the university’s Creativity Core Curriculum. She has lectured internationally on design thinking and interdisciplinary pedagogy.

 

So often it is neither the design not the people; it is the systems we have put into place that are so hard to change. 

The System Series

Considering Baldridge as the culture keystone

 

You have tried Continuous Quality Improvement and High Reliabililty, Patient-Centered Care and Voice of the Customer aren't producing the results. Is Baldridge the next approach for your organization? Let us help you decide. 

Participants will: 

  • Review the Baldridge Excellence Framework® and its core values and concepts
  • Discuss the commitment and approach to integrate Baldridge into your organization 
Presenter

Andrew Wierzbieniec, MHSA is the Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Organizational Transformation at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY.  He has also served as an examiner for the state of Pennsylvania's Baldridge Examiner group.

Why has healthcare not embraced Lean Six Sigma to the same extent?

 

The techniques for Lean Six Sigma are used to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Lean is also about improving culture. Organizations that have implemented Lean Six Sigma throughout their enterprise use it for problem-solving and creating a quality culture. 

Participants will: 

  • Discuss the opportunities for improvement using Lean Six Sigma methodology 
  • Review how to lead with Lean Six Sigma and train to be a yellow, green, or black belt 
Presenter

Leigh Elko, MS, LSSGB, PMP, RRT is currently an operations manager at Christiana Care and has over sixteen years of health care, managerial, information technology, operations, and clinical bedside experience. She is Lean Six Sigma and PMP certified. 

 

The Baldridge journey results in an entirely new culture in healthcare organizations but it is not for the faint of heart.  However, there are rewards along the way, and the opportunity for state and national recognition. Learn what the Baldridge journey requires from you and your journey. 

Participants will: 

  • Discuss the Baldridge journey and small steps toward changing culture 
  • Review the national framework for Baldridge awards and acknowledgement 
Presenter

Andrew Wierzbieniec, MHSA is the Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Organizational Transformation at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY.  He has also served as an examiner for the state of Pennsylvania's Baldridge Examiner group. 

 

Fees & Registration (Spring 2024)

  • One Session  -  $49
  • Three Sessions - $99
  • Six Sessions - $175  

Once you purchase the number of sessions, you will be prompted to select the specific name of the session/s that you will attend. 

Questions? Contact [email protected]

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