PQA has released the entire Medication Use Quality continuing education program and Medication Use Quality Certificate, which is a fully updated version of the program that was initially released in 2020.

PQA's webinars have a new look! Throughout the year, PQA provides various education opportunities to promote the use and impact of PQA measures and advance the quality of medication use. With a focus on new developments and best practices, our goal is to help quality-focused healthcare professionals in a variety of practice settings expand their knowledge and skills. PQA hosts four different webinar series to provide targeted education on a variety of topics. Each of our four webinars has a distinct purpose, and we are excited to showcase the new logo for each series. Below you'll find information on each series and how you can take advantage to advance your knowledge and expertise. 

Creating a quality improvement plan can seem daunting to many, but it is vital for value-based care and improved patient quality. PQA’s Medication Use Quality continuing education program course, "Quality Improvement Foundation," was designed to provide realistic approaches to implementing a quality improvement plan in a variety of settings.

Health information technology and public policy are two topics in health care that are continually evolving, as is their impact on medication use quality. With those factors in mind, the next Medication Use Quality continuing education program course, "Special Topics Impacting Quality," will provide a framework to understand each topic and resources to locate additional information. This framework will give learners the knowledge to understand those impacts on an ongoing basis.

PQA has released an additional course to the Medication Use Quality continuing education program.  “Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in Medication Use Quality” dives into foundational information about health equity concepts and external factors that may impact health outcomes and medication use quality, including SDOH.

Nadia Krigger, a Master of Public Health candidate at New York University participated in the PQA MPH Practicum Program during the Fall 2021 semester. Krigger has a background in biological and analytical research and her interests include infectious disease research and health policy. While at PQA, she supported development of a manuscript on the empirical validity of PQA’s opioid measures. She recently shared insights on her time with PQA and the value of a medication use quality-focused practicum for MPH students.

PQA has created a new Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Resource Guide that profiles real-world SDOH services that are promising for improving the quality and safety of medication use with a focus on screenings, referrals and interventions conducted by or involving pharmacists or pharmacies. Richard Schmitz, PQA’s Chief Engagement Officer, provides insights on the guide, it’s origins and what’s next in this Q&A blog.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a complex disease, and its prevention and treatment have progressed through scientific discoveries, clinical training, continuing education, and widespread public health campaigns. However, gaps in knowledge and practice remain, related to quality improvement and especially to medication use.