Constellation Regional Learning Collaborative

Quality Improvement Curriculum 

Overview

The Quality Improvement (QI) curriculum is designed to build practical, applied QI capacity for healthcare organizations and community-based organizations working to improve health outcomes. The curriculum guides participants step-by-step through the full lifecycle of a quality improvement initiative; from defining the problem, to diagnosing root causes, testing changes, and sustaining improvement over time.

Across all modules, the curriculum emphasizes real-world application, interdisciplinary collaboration, and alignment with established quality improvement frameworks. Healthcare and community-based examples are woven throughout to ensure relevance across settings. By the end of the curriculum, participants are equipped with the tools, language, and confidence to lead structured quality improvement efforts that are measurable, sustainable, and embedded into everyday practice.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• Develop and apply effective project charters
• Conduct root cause analyses (RCAs)
• Implement the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle in quality improvement initiatives
• Optimize quality improvement efforts

Course Information

Release Date: February 1, 2026
Available Through: January 31, 2027
Course Type: Enduring Course
Estimated time of completion: 4 hours

Target Audience 

This quality improvement curriculum is designed for a diverse range of professionals committed to strengthening care delivery, improving systems, and advancing health outcomes, including:

• Physicians (MDs/DOs)
• Public Health Practitioners
• Community Health Workers (CHWs)
• Social Workers
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Community Health Leaders

Whether participants are engaged in direct patient care, community-based service delivery, program design, or organizational leadership, the curriculum provides practical quality improvement tools and methods to help teams identify problems, test solutions, use data effectively, and sustain meaningful change in real-world settings.

Meet the Faculty                       

Katherine Plunkett, LMSW, MPH, CHES
Katherine Plunkett is an experienced quality improvement professional and healthcare consultant with a proven track record of driving transformative change in healthcare systems. She brings over a decade of hands-on experience in clinical quality improvement, technical assistance, and healthcare program management. Her expertise lies in leveraging Lean Six Sigma methodologies, data-driven strategies, and evidence-based practices to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations.

Throughout her career, Katherine has led the development and execution of high-impact quality initiatives, securing over $1.5 million in federal and private grant funding. She has designed benchmarking dashboards that have enabled executive teams to track and improve health disparities and performance metrics. Katherine’s leadership and guidance in Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition has positioned her as a trusted strategic partner to hospitals, medical practices, and public health organizations.

Her credentials include a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, CHES certification, and a licensed social worker (LMSW). Katherine has presented at state health conferences, served as a grant reviewer for HRSA, and contributed to regional health boards and associations. Her commitment to quality, innovation, and equity in healthcare makes her an invaluable asset to organizations seeking sustainable improvement in clinical outcomes and system performance

Contact Us

Please reach out to the Constellation Regional Learning Collaborative team if you have any questions at [email protected].