I am applying these skills to think more intentionally about how evaluation can inform short- and long-term improvement instead of merely designing evaluation to measure outcomes at the end of the project."
Suzanne Ng, Applying Learning Health System Principles in Hybrid Care
Suzanne is qualitative research analyst and engages with people to understand their experiences and translate findings from interviews or focus groups into actionable recommendations to support health system improvements.
What led you to seek out this course?
I wanted to learn how Learning Health System approaches are applied in real-world health system improvement projects.
What was a highlight for you in the course?
The opportunity to learn from multiple instructors with diverse expertise across the health system. I also enjoyed applying what I have learned to a capstone project that was directly relevant to my work.
What surprised you about the course?
I was surprised by how much emphasis the Learning Health System approach places on ongoing learning and engagement with an advisory group, rather than treating monitoring and evaluation as a one-time standalone activity.
How are you applying the skills you learned in your personal or professional life?
I am applying these skills to think more intentionally about how evaluation can generate ongoing learning and inform short- and long-term improvement instead of merely designing evaluation to measure outcomes at the end of the project.
Who would you recommend the course to?
I would recommend this program to anyone working in health care or health system improvement who wants to learn about how to integrate evidence, evaluation, feedback into ongoing quality improvement initiatives.
What advice would you give to someone looking to take courses in this field?
Come with a real-world project or challenge in mind and look for opportunities to apply the concepts as you learn them. The discussion posts are also a great way to learn from other students about examples of real-world challenges and opportunities. I found that connecting the concepts from the course to project I’ve worked on helped me see how Learning Health System approaches can be applied realistically in practice.