Improvement

What students think
This new article in Healthcare Executive describes how health professions students are learning about and applying the tools of quality improvement.

Measuring for quality improvement
In partnership with professionals right across the NHS, the Department of Health and The NHS Information Centre have identified an initial, but evolving, set of indicators to describe the quality of a broad range of services – the Indicators for Quality Improvement.

Research in action: using positive deviance to improve quality of health care
EH Bradley, LA Curry, S Ramanadhan, L Rowe, IM Nembhard, HM Krumholz
Implementation Science, 2009, 4:25

Perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of evidence-based medicine in primary care: a study protocol
P Alonso-Coello, I Sola, R Rotaeche, AI Gonzalez-Gonzalez, M Marzo-Castillejo, A Louro-Gonzalez, R Carrillo, P Velazquez, G Garcia-Velasco, C Calderon
BMC Health Services Research, 2009, 9:80

Applying the balanced scorecard to local public health performance measurement: deliberations and decisions
E Weir, N d’Entremont, S Stalker, K Kurji, V Robinson
BMC Public Health, 2009, 9:127

Innovation

Pseudoinnovation: the development and spread of healthcare quality improvement methodologies
K Walshe
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 21(3), pp153-159
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Leadership

Fixing healthcare: the professionals’ perspective
A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit
February 2009

Human error theory: relevance to nurse management
G Armitage
Journal of Nursing Management, 2009, 17(2), pp193-202
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Leadership and the curriculum
J Clark, K Armit
British Medical Journal, 7th February 2009

Quality improvement: theory and practice
R Boaden
British Journal of Health Care Management, 2009, 15(1), pp12-16
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Effective quality improvement: recognising the challenges
A Powell, R Rushmer, H Davies
British Journal of Health Care Management, 2009, 15(1), pp17-21
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Quality Improvement

Quality of healthcare in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland: an intra-UK chartbook
K Sutherland, N Coyle
The Health Foundation – Quest or Quality and Improved Performance
This chartbook brings together publicly available data from across the four home nations of the UK and presents an intra-UK picture of quality. Click here to access the full text.

Quality Improvement

Clinicians in quality improvement: a new career pathway in academic medicine
KG Shojania, W Levinson
Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009, 301(7), pp766-768
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Quality of care: measuring up the NHS
Nigel Hawkes
British Medical Journal, 2009, 18th February
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An innovative telemedicine knowledge translation program to improve quality of care in intensive care units: protocol for a cluster randomized pragmatic trial
DC Scales, K Dainty, B Hales, R Pinto, RA Fowler, NKJ Adhikari, M Zwarenstein
Implementation Science, 2009, 4:5
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A cluster randomized controlled trial aimed at implementation of local quality improvement collaboratives to improve prescribing and test ordering performance of general practitioners: study protocol
J Trietsch, T van der Weijden, W Verstappen, R Janknegt, P Muijrers, R Winkens, B van Steenkiste, R Grol, J Metsemakers
Implementation Science, 2009, 4:6
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Events

Event: European Conference on Intellectual Capital
28th-29th April 2009 – University of Applied Sciences, Haarlem, The Netherlands
More details about this event are here.

Event: Observatory Venice Summer School: Innovation and Health Technology Assessment Improving Health System Quality
26th-31st July 2009 – San Servolo Venice
The European Observatory Summer School programme brings together high level policy-makers in a stimulating environment where experiences can be openly discussed and information freely exchanged. There is some formal teaching but the emphasis is very much on a participative approach. Click here for more information.

Quality Improvement

Publication guidelines for quality improvement studies in health care: evolution of the SQUIRE Project
F Davidoff, P Batalden, D Stevens, G Ogrinc, S Mooney
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2008, 149(9), pp670-676
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Improving the quality of health care: who is responsible for what?
JF Wharam, D Sulmasy
Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009, 301(2), pp215-217
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Quality Improvement

Commentary: randomised trials of surgical and non-surgical treatment: a role model for the future
JM Blazeby, CP Barham, JL Donovan
British Medical Journal, 2008, 15th December, 337:a2747
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Publication guidelines for quality improvement studies in health care: evolution of the SQUIRE project
F Davidoff, P Batalden, D Stevens, G Ogrinc, S Mooney
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2008, 23(12), pp2125-2130
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Quality Improvement

The effect of a quality improvement collaborative to improve antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgical patients: a randomized trial
SB Kritchevsky, BI Braun, AJ Bush, MR Bozikis, L Kusek, JP Burke, ES Wong, J Jernigan, CC Davis, B Simmons
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2008, 149(7), pp472-480
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Quality Measurement

Developing and testing an instrument to measure the presence of conditions for successful implementation of quality improvement collaboratives
MLA Duckers, C Wagner, PP Groenewegen
BMC Health Services Research, 2008, 8:172
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Quality Improvement

The clinical nurse leader: a catalyst for improving quality and patient safety
JM Stanley, J Gannon, J Gabuat, S Hartranft, N Adams, C Mayes, GM Shouse, A Edwards, D Burch
Journal of Nursing Management, 2008, 16(5), pp614-622
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Models of governance and the changing role of the board in the “modernized” UK health sector
R Addicott
Journal of Health Organisation and Management, 2008, 22(2), pp147-163
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The role of quality improvement initiatives in healthcare operational environments: changes, challenges and responses
J Alavi, MM Yasin
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 2008, 21(2), pp133-145
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Clinical integration provides the key to quality improvement: structure for change
MC Shields
American Journal of Medical Quality, 2008, 23(3), pp161-164
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Quality Improvement

PATH: Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals
2007 - World Health Organization Europe
This brochure provides an overview on the WHO Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals (PATH). It includes a description of the conceptual model, a presentation of the indicators selected to fit the model and data collection procedures and reporting of performance. Click here to read more.

Redefining quality – implications of recent clinical trials
HM Krumholz, TH Lee
New England Journal of Medicine, 2008, 358(24), pp2537-2539
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Improving care quality and reducing disparities: physicians’ roles
C Clancy
Archives of Internal Medicine, 2008, 168(11), pp1135-1136
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Quality Improvement

Infoletter – the evolution of health-system management and evaluation practices
This newsletter is produced by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF)/Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) on Governance and Transformation of health care organizations. Click here to see all the newsletters which focus on improving service quality and organizational performance.

Quality improvement in the NHS: refinement of current reforms is needed through a new national strategy
British Medical Journal, 2008, 336(7654), pp1143
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Quality improvement: How can we improve patients' care?
M Pigera, et al
Student British Medical Journal, 2008, Jun, (16), pp228-229
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Communication

Development of communities of practice to facilitate quality improvement initiatives in surgical oncology
K Fung, M Fung, E Goubanova, K Sequeira, A Abdulla, R Cook, C Crossley, B Langer, AJ Smith, H Stern
Quality Management in Health Care, 2008, 17(2), pp94-101
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How to give feedback is taught on every management programme yet only a talented and steely minority do it
J Rogers
Health Service Journal, 2008, 6106, pp30-31

Knowledge translation
G Hughes
Emergency Medicine Journal, 2008, 25(6), pp320
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Tools

The World Health Organization Performance Assessment Tool for quality improvement in Hospitals (PATH): an analysis of the pilot implementation in 37 hospitals
O Groene, N Klazinga, V Kazandjian, P Lombrail, P Bartels
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 2008, 20(3), pp155-161
View abstract
Click here to access the tool.

Quality Improvement

When students become stakeholders in quality improvement
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement collects Improvement Stories. This is one example, describing how involving students and residents in quality improvement can improve projects, as well as motivating and arming them with tools for success that can have a lasting effect. Click here to read more.

Quality Improvement

How can quality of health care be safeguarded across the European Union?
H Legido-Quigley
British Medical Journal, 2008, 336(7650), pp920-923
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Reducing harm through quality improvement
B Reiss-Brennan
British Medical Journal, 2008, 336(7650), pp952-953
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Events

Event: Governance Between Organisations (GBO): consensus on effective practice
2nd July 2008 – Royal College of Physicians, London
This is a Joint NHS Clinical Governance Support Team, Institute of Healthcare Management and Healthcare Events. Click here to find out more and contact Healthcare Events on 020 8541 1399 or clare@healthcare-events.co.uk to book a place.

Event: Knowledge management in public health: exploring culture, content, process and technology
3rd-4th November 2008 – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
This event is being organized by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools. Click here to find out more.

Event: Protecting people while increasing knowledge: ethics in health research, evaluation and quality improvement conference
4th-6th May 2008 – Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
Click here to find out more.

Event: 20th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care
8th-11th December 2008 – Nashville, Tennessee, US
The National Forum is the “meeting place” for people committed to the mission of improving health care. This annual event draws 6,000 health care leaders from around the world in person and an additional 8,000 via satellite. Click here to find out more.

Event: UK Conference on Evidence Based Health Care
8th-9th December 2008 – Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel, Oxford, UK
The conference will focus on advances in the practice, resources and teaching in evidence-based practice. Click here to download the application form.

Quality Improvement

Development of communities of practice to facilitate quality improvement initiatives in surgical oncology
M Fung-Kee-Fung, E Goubanova, K Sequira, A Abdulla, R Cook, C Crossley, B Langer, AJ Smith, H Stern
Quality Management in Health Care, 2008, 17(2), pp174-185
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Personal quality improvement and individualized health process control: an update
D Neuhauser
Quality Management in Health Care, 2008, 17(2), pp186-188
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Different time perspectives of the doctor and the patient reduce quality in health care
M Ortendahl
Quality Management in Health Care, 2008, 17(2), pp136-139
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Engaging physicians: how the team can incorporate quality and safety
J Reinertsen
Healthcare Executive, 2008, 12(7)
This is the fifth in a series on the Institute of Health Improvement’s 5 Million Lives Campaign intervention on governance leadership. This article discusses the critical importance of developing a shared physician/hospital quality and safety agenda. Click here to read the article.

Quality Improvement

Reducing harm through quality improvement
B Reiss-Brennan, LA Savitz, P Briot, W Cannon
British Medical Journal, 8th April 2008
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Interventions designed to improve the quality and efficiency of medication use in managed care: a critical review of the literature – 2001-2007
CY Lu, D Ross-Degnan, SB Soumerai, SA Pearson
BMC Health Services Research, 2008, 8:75
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