If you are working on your organization’s Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), your organization will have tested some Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) change ideas through PDSA cycles and determined which are making an impact. If you haven't already, now is the time to implement these changes in your unit or department and start measuring and monitoring your outcomes. If improvements in one unit or department are achieving the desired outcomes, consider scaling and spreading these tests of change to other areas.
Key activities include:
- Formalizing and standardizing the changes, and documenting the new processes
- Communicating the new processes widely among staff
- Generating buy-in by sharing the improvement story and the impact on clients/residents/patients and staff
- Collecting data and displaying it visually using run charts and control charts to understand variations in performance
- Using your measurement planto monitor adoption and improvement of full implementation
Sustaining Quality Improvement Changes in Healthcare
From the start, QI initiatives should include a sustainability plan. This plan should outline strategies for maintaining changes, such as embedding new practices into standard operating procedures, ongoing monitoring, and assigning responsibility for continued oversight.
Although sustaining changes over the long term can be challenging, here are key strategies to ensure your QI efforts last:
- Leadership Commitment: Strong, ongoing support from leadership is critical. Leaders must actively champion QI initiatives, allocate necessary resources, and foster a culture that values continuous improvement. Their commitment signals the importance of QI efforts to the entire organization.
- Engage Frontline Staff: Those directly involved in client/resident/patient care are best positioned to identify issues and suggest practical solutions. Engaging frontline staff to assess the implementation of QI initiatives ensures that changes are practical and effective and increases buy-in for the new process to be continued.
- Effective Communication: Transparent and consistent communication is essential to keep all stakeholders informed about the goals, progress, and outcomes of QI initiatives. Regular updates and feedback loops help maintain momentum and address concerns promptly.
- Ongoing Training and Education: Continuous education and training help staff stay updated on the new change ideas and best practices your organization is moving forward with. Regular workshops, touchpoints, and access to online resources ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to sustain improvements.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Using data to monitor the impact of QI initiatives is crucial. Regularly reviewing performance metrics helps identify areas where changes are working and where adjustments are needed. Data also provides tangible evidence of success, which can motivate staff and justify continued investment.
- Celebrate Successes: Recognizing and celebrating achievements boosts morale and reinforces the value of QI efforts. Publicizing successes can inspire other departments to undertake their own QI initiatives.
By focusing on these strategies, your organization can create a strong framework that supports the sustained success of quality improvement initiatives, ultimately leading to better client outcomes and experiences, and more efficient or effective healthcare services.
Please review the Implementing and Sustaining Changes Guide for more information on the strategies for the successful implementation and sustainability of improvement efforts.
QIP Cycle for participating organizations:
