1. Journal Club Notes

2. Objectives Identify the key principles of quality improvement
Describe the continuous quality improvement process
Identify the steps in the PDSA cycle

3. What is QI? Quality Improvement (QI) Continuous and systematic process
Leads to measurable improvement in health care services
Results in improvement in health outcomes
Quality is related to how services are delivered and to systems of care

4. Principles of QI in healthcare
Organization’s system and processes
Focus on patients
Focus on being part of a team
Use of data

5. Organization’s system and processes

6. Organization’s system and processes
Can address either:
What care is provided?
How care is provided?
Biggest improvement when both are addressed simultaneously
Identify steps in providing a health care service and assess each step

7. Focus on patients Are patients’ needs and expectations met?
Do all patients have access to services?
If not, who doesn’t have access and what are the barriers?
Is the care based on current guidelines or recommendations?
What can be done to improve patient safety?
Is coordination with other parts of the health care system effective?
Is health literacy and cultural competency taken into account?

8. Focus on being part of a team
QI is a team process
Each member brings a unique perspective
Important when:
Complex system
Involves more than one discipline and location
Need commitment and buy-in from multiple groups

9. Use of Data Data are a very important part of QI Need data to:
Establish the baseline
Monitor progress
Determine whether the changes are making a difference
Compare over time or across sites
Develop and use indicators that can be used systematically over time and across sites

10. PDSA Cycle Model for accelerating the quality improvement process
Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle
Plan – plan the change to improve quality of care, including the data collection plan
Do – try the intervention on a small scale
Study – analyze data and interpret the results
Act – act on what is learned from the data