Quality Assurance Methodology
  Methodology
 

CLINICAL PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT METHOD

The method involves the identification and diagnosis of a problem, measurement of the scope and size of the problem, identification of a number of interventions that may reduce the problem, implementation of the intervention(s) and re-measurement to ascertain whether the interventions have been effective.

The Clinical Practice Improvement Model

1. What are we trying to accomplish?
2. What changes can we make that will result in an improvement?
3. How will we know that a change is an improvement?

The five recognized steps in this improvement process are:

1. Project phase
Identify what you are trying to accomplish and who should be involved.
 
2. Diagnostic phase
Establish the full extent of the problem, what changes can be made that will result in an improvement, and how to measure any resulting improvement.
 
3. Interventions phase
Implement the changes identified in the diagnostic phase
 
4. Impact and implementation phase
Measure and record the effect of the changes.
 
5. Sustaining improvement phase
Continue monitoring and planning for future improvement.

 
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Last Updated: 11 February 2003