Implementation

Created: November 18, 2023

Last Updated: June 08, 2024

Contributor(s):

ERAS Collaborative Network

Editor(s):

Cheryl Crisafi MSN RN CNL

Amanda Rea DNP CRNP AGACNP-BC CCRN CMC CSC E-AEC

Gina McConnell RN BSN CCRN

Shannon Crotwell RN BSN CCRN

Vicki Morton DNP MSN AGNP-BC

Alexander Gregory MD FRCPC

Summary

The successful implementation of quality improvement in healthcare involves several key steps to ensure that healthcare organizations can deliver better patient outcomes and enhance overall healthcare processes.

Key aspects of successful implementation include:

Leadership and Culture

  • Develop strong leadership support and commitment to quality improvement initiatives.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement where all staff members are engaged and empowered to participate.

Identify Quality Measures

  • Define clear and measurable quality indicators and performance metrics relevant to the specific healthcare setting and patient population.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • Establish robust data collection processes to gather relevant data on quality measures.
  • Analyze the data to identify areas for improvement and set baseline performance levels.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Involve all stakeholders, including healthcare providers, administrators, and patients, in the quality improvement process.
  • Gather input and feedback from these stakeholders to ensure their perspectives are considered.

Goal Setting

  • Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for quality improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure that goals align with the organization's mission and strategic objectives.

Action Planning

  • Develop action plans that outline the steps needed to achieve quality improvement goals.
  • Assign responsibilities and establish timelines for implementing these plans.

Application

  • Execute the action plans, making necessary process changes and improvements.
  • Monitor progress and adapt strategies as needed to address emerging challenges.

Education and Training

  • Provide training and education to staff members to ensure they have the skills and knowledge required to implement quality improvement initiatives effectively.

Continuous Audit

  • Continuously monitor and measure progress toward quality improvement goals.
  • Use data-driven feedback to identify trends and areas requiring further attention.

Communication

  • Maintain open and transparent communication channels to keep stakeholders informed of progress, challenges, and successes.
  • Celebrate achievements to boost morale and motivation.

Spread and Scale

  • Once successful improvement strategies are identified, consider spreading them to other departments or units within the organization to achieve broader impact.

Sustainability

  • Develop sustainability plans to ensure that quality improvements are maintained over the long term.
  • Integrate quality improvement practices into the organization's standard operating procedures.

Evaluation and Feedback

  • Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives.
  • Seek feedback from patients and staff to identify areas for further refinement and enhancement.

Celebrate Success

  • Recognize and celebrate achievements to reinforce a culture of continuous improvement and motivate staff.

Adaptability

  • Be prepared to adapt to changes in healthcare policies, technologies, and patient needs to ensure ongoing quality improvement.



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This summary was written with assistance from artificial intelligence. All text was reviewed, edited, and supplemented by the listed editor(s). Reference: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Sept 25 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

ERAS Cardiac VTC Disclaimer:

The VTC, and all included content, is intended to inform ERAS Cardiac Members in a multitude of topics related to enhanced recovery. The information included has been provided by other enhanced recovery experts and should be used for educational purposes only. It is not intended to describe, recommend, or suggest any specific medical practice or intervention, nor should it be considered as formal medical advice or consultation. The ERAS Cardiac Society cannot guarantee that the information on the VTC is accurate or complete in every respect. Therefore, ERAS Cardiac Society is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content, or medical results that occur with the application of the information obtained while using the VTC. All healthcare professionals should continue to use sound clinical judgment and prescribe therapies based on the best medical knowledge at their disposal.

All the material presented on the VTC is the intellectual property of the ERAS Cardiac Society, its contributors, and its sponsors. Unless explicitly stated, the information, images, audio, video, and other content may not be reproduced (in whole or in part) in any way without the written permission of the ERAS Cardiac Society.

If you have any questions or comments about the ERAS Cardiac VTC, please email: VTC@erascardiac.org

Educational Materials

ERAS Cardiac - Implementation Overview
Gina McConnell RN and Amanda Rae DNP review the key aspects of achieving successful implementation of a cardiac ERAS program.
ERAS Program Development
This video is a recorded session from the ERAS Cardiac Virtual Meeting in 2021. Speakers and discussants include members of our international network of ERAS experts. In this session, participants discuss the keys to program development.

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