Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year

Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year
Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year
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Bolstering patient safety isn’t a one-off exercise. It requires a dedication to iterative change, to constant measurement and to putting the ability to drive change into the hands of those who are delivering care. In other words, it requires a process of quality improvement.

This award will recognise an outstanding quality improvement initiative. Our judges are looking for teams that have applied a rigorous approach to identifying problems and an equally rigorous approach to solving them. They want to see evidence of a dedication to understanding performance data and acting on it – with the result that patients receive better, safer, more reliable care.

Eligibility

Entries are welcome from all NHS or public sector health or social care organisations who are engaged in continuous and tangible improvements in patient safety. Entries are welcomed from collaborative groups from across organisations including those which aren’t solely NHS bodies.

Ambition

  • Describe the organisation(s) and the patient safety dynamic including the key stakeholders.
  • Outline the goals and initiatives set for improvement, and how these are continuously measured and updated over time.
  • Explain how the programme evolves to meet the latest best practice guidelines – judges are looking for an iterative programme with constant change.

Outcome

  • Evidence that the QI initiative has resulted in an improvement in safety for patients.
  • This must include a quantitative aspect, and can focus on one or more aspects of care.
  • Show how the QI initiative has directly contributed to the delivery of consistently high-quality care – this should have a quantitative aspect but can also include qualitative measures such as patient feedback.
  • What other benefits have been realised by the initiative?

Spread

  • Demonstrate how the initiative has embedded and spread throughout the organisation.
  • Alternatively, show how this work could be replicated and scaled in other settings or organisations.

Value

  • Clearly evidence how the initiative has improved value for patients and staff, in terms of patient experience, staff satisfaction and quality of care.
  • If possible, provide evidence of value creation in other areas, in terms of increased capacity, reduced adverse events (and therefore investigatory or litigation costs) and/or improved efficiencies.
  • Provide testimonials from patients and stakeholders to help support the entry.

Involvement

  • Show how patients remain involved in decisions around their care as the programme evolves, and how their views are embedded in the design of the initiative.
  • Provide clear evidence of a multidisciplinary approach, with all relevant parties fully engaging in the work, including staff at all levels as well as patients and families.
  • Demonstrate how the initiative has helped develop a culture in which all members of staff can raise concerns and make suggestions for improvements.

To find out more

Contact Luke Adeniran for information on how to get involved with the Patient Safety Awards 2023 on 0203 004 5713 or email at luke.adeniran@wilmingtonplc.com