Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is broadly defined as an overarching management philosophy and/or framework that drives the daily work of all employees towards organizational excellence. The goal of the CQI Locally Driven Collaborative Project (LDCP, 2015-2019) was to strengthen CQI in Ontario’s public health units (PHUs).
The objective of this phase of the research project was to identify and describe the successes and challenges encountered by PHUs in their efforts to implement and support CQI by collecting and analyzing case studies from PHUs. The research question was: what can be learned from the efforts to implement CQI in local PHUs in Ontario?
Read the full CQI LDCP Case Study Summary Report here.
Results:
Six themes emerged from individual case analysis: CQI Plan/Framework; CQI Committee; Accreditation; Performance Management/Measurement Framework; Organizational Culture/Capacity/Structure; and Training. All of the case studies were assigned to one of the six themes based on the main focus of the case. Individual case analysis revealed essential factors to implement CQI: leadership support and engagement, QI training, QI projects, multidisciplinary CQI committees, QI facilitators, CQI frameworks, dedicated time and resources, and buy-in from staff. These factors ultimately create and sustain a culture of quality. Critical success factors include having buy-in and support at all levels by engaging all staff in the process. Barriers can include lack of resources and dedicated time to do CQI work and not having the capacity for QI.
Case Studies:
CQI Plan/Framework
CQI Committee
Accreditation
Performance Management/Measurement Framework
Organizational Culture/Capacity/Structure
Training
Conclusions:
This research has produced new and relevant knowledge and tools to support robust and sustainable CQI in Ontario’s PHUs. Moreover, it provides an understanding and explanation of challenges and opportunities related to implementing CQI within Ontario’s PHUs. The CQI case studies have now been posted to Quorum, which is a sustainable online repository, as an open site, in the hopes of fostering shared learning and, ultimately, strengthening CQI efforts across the province. As Ontario’s PHUs enter a time of significant transformation, it is more important than ever before to ensure a culture of quality and continuous organizational self-improvement. Thus, the findings from this aspect of Phase 2 of the CQI LDCP, along with the findings from Phase 1, hold the potential to support robust and sustainable CQI in Ontario’s PHUs during this time of considerable organizational change.
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