Developing and executing quality improvement projects (concept, methods, and evaluation)

Abstract

Continuous quality improvement, quality assurance, cycles of change--these words of often used to express the process of using data to inform and improve clinical care. Although many of us have been exposed to theories and practice of experimental work (e.g., randomized trial), few of us have been similarly exposed to the science underlying quality improvement. Through the lens of a single-center quality improvement study, this article exposes the reader to methodology for conducting such studies. The reader will gain an understanding of these methods required to embark on such a study.

Figure 1.

Process mapping for intra and post-operative red blood cell transfusions. Likosky DS, Surgenor SD, Dacey LJ, et al. Rationalising the treatment of anemia in cardiac surgery: Short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19:392–8.

Figure 2.

Data form. Likosky DS, Surgenor SD, Dacey LJ, et al. Rationalising the treatment of anemia in cardiac surgery: Short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19:392–8.

Figure 3.

Consensus guideline for transfusion practice. Likosky DS, Surgenor SD, Dacey LJ, et al. Rationalising the treatment of anemia in cardiac surgery: Short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19:392–8.

Figure 4.

Reduction in transfusions over the course of the study. Likosky DS, Surgenor SD, Dacey LJ, et al. Rationalising the treatment of anemia in cardiac surgery: Short and mid-term results from a local quality improvement initiative. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19:392–8. (A) Intraoperative; (B) postoperative.