1. Is it Quality Improvement or Research ?

2. What is QA/QI? There is no regulatory definition.
Often QA/QI is described as “systematic, data-guided activities designed to bring about immediate (or nearly immediate) improvements in health care delivery.

4. Points to Consider

5. Purpose
Research
QA/ QI
To test a hypothesis OR establish clinical practice standards where none are accepted
To assess or promptly improve a process, program, or system; OR improve performance as judged by accepted/ established standards

6. Starting Point To answer a question or test a hypothesis
Research
QA/ QI
To answer a question or test a hypothesis
To improve Performance

7. Design
Research
QA/QI
Typically a fixed protocol with fixed interventions that are not revised as data is collected
Typically interventions are adjusted based on data collected if quality goal is not being met

8. Benefits
Research
QA/QI
Designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge and may or may not benefit subjects
Designed to promptly benefit a process, program, or system and may or may not benefit patients

9. Risks/ Burdens May place subject as risk and stated as such
Research
QI/ QA
May place subject as risk and stated as such
By design, does not increase patient’s risk, with exception of possible privacy/ confidentiality concerns

10. End Point Answer a research question/ prove or disprove a hypothesis
QA/ QI
Answer a research question/ prove or disprove a hypothesis
Promptly improve a program/ process/ system, typically has a quality goal to measure improvement. Compare results to established set of standards.

11. IS THE PROJECT AN INSTITUTIONAL PROJECT OR BEING CONDUCTED BY AN OUTSIDE ENTITY?
IF the answer is no – the project can go through the QI/ QA process.
IF the answer is yes

13. THE PROJECT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO IRB FOR REVIEW

14. Expedited Retrospective Chart Review Exempt
Rare – Only used if project did not contain patient data/ identifiers
If project is complete and now want to compare data
If project is conducted by outside entity
If data being collected prospectively

15. What approval is needed in order to conduct a QA/QI project?

16. All Quality projects must be registered at https://qipr. ese. ufhealth
This process will help determine if your project is a quality project or if you need to submit to the IRB. The software will also identify others in the institution that have or are working on similar projects that may result in collaborations

17. What is QIPR?
The Quality Improvement Project Registry (QIPR) for UF Health quality improvement projects.

22. Why should I use QIPR?

23. Share your QI projects, learn from others, and see current improvement projects to connect and collaborate

24. Apply credit to New Innovations (for Residents and Magnet only)

25. Access to BMJ Quality website to manage projects and facilitate QI publications and presentations

26. Access to Quality Department experts and data resources

27. If you are still confused or not sure whether or not you need IRB review. Call the IRB office at (904) or (904)