What is Quality Improvement?
Quality improvement (QI) is a systematic approach that uses specific techniques to improve quality and achieve better outcomes.
- It’s used to solve complex problems by making step-by-step improvements.
- The focus is on introducing a ‘change’ (improvement) and a ‘method’ (an approach with appropriate tools), while paying attention to the context.
- It involves everyone in exploring the problem, considering possible solutions and testing changes.
Our approach
Elysium Healthcare is committed to embedding a quality improvement (QI) ethos – that is, using methods and tools that support continuous improvement and empowering staff and service users to make meaningful change – into organisational culture.
Recognising the potential benefits of a consistent and systematic approach to improving safety, effectiveness and experience, we partnered early in our QI journey with the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to ensure we applied a well-tested and recognised framework for change.
We have an established framework for QI, which has been designed to support engagement across a wide range of service types and by all staff and service users. With over 800 people trained to date in QI methods and tools and 50 active projects, QI has proven to be a valuable opportunity for individuals to be involved in leading and delivering meaningful change.
Model for Improvement
At Elysium Healthcare, we use a structured framework to support our QI work. As advocated for by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, the Model for Improvement provides a consistent approach.
The model has two parts:
- Three fundamental questions, which can be addressed in any order.
- The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to test changes in real work settings. The PDSA cycle guides the test of a change to determine if the change is an improvement.
Useful videos and guides
The following resources present QI in a clear and easy-to-understand for anyone interested to learn more.
Quality improvement made simple – download the guide here