The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate how continuous quality improvement is used within the health care environment. While health care organizations strive for the best possible delivery of quality care to patients and customers, the process of assessing, managing
The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate how continuous quality improvement (CQI) is used within the health care environment.
While health care organizations strive for the best possible delivery of quality care to patients and customers, the process of assessing, managing, and improving quality is constantly evolving and requires vigilant attention to ensure that systems are effective and that the organization is achieving its desired outcomes. Discuss this evolution of quality within the health care industry and illustrate the role that continuous quality improvement plays in health care today.
In a paper of 750-1,000 words, address the following:
What is continuous quality improvement and how is it implemented in health care? Why is CQI necessary within a health care environment?
How have continuous quality improvement efforts improved within the last 50 years? How have they improved in the last 10 years?
What are the distinguishing characteristics of continuous quality improvement and how is it distinct from quality assurance?
Why is cross-disciplinary thinking essential to continuous quality improvement efforts? How has this type of collaboration evolved within a health care context?
Explain the scientific method of continuous quality improvement and provide a hypothetical scenario when application of this method would be advantageous.
What do you envision for the future of continuous quality improvement in the health care industry? How do you predict it will evolve within the next 10-20 years?
Cite at least three references, including the textbook.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a deliberate, defined process which is focused on activities that are responsive to community needs and improving population health. It is a continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes, and other indicators of quality for state and local program levels.
The goal of CQI at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Family Home Visiting (FHV) program is to improve outcomes by building capacity of local partners through:
For more information about Minnesota’s FHV CQI efforts, contact health.homevisiting@state.mn.us.
Continuous Quality Improvement is considered a best practice in public health. MDH is a Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) awardee that administers funding on behalf of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to local grantees throughout Minnesota to deliver home visiting programs. MDH FHV is required by HRSA to develop a CQI work plan and report on it annually. MDH FHV must demonstrate utilization of CQI best practices and measurable improvement at the state program level while assisting family home visiting programs to increase their capacity to use consistent and planned CQI methods to improve program outcomes.
MDH FHV supports local family home visiting programs who receive federal and state funds to deliver home visiting programs. Family home visiting programs can be managed by are local public health agencies, county health boards, tribal nations, and nonprofit organizations. The majority of programs that MDH FHV supports are those using an evidence-based home visiting model funded by state and/or federal home visiting dollars.
An interdisciplinary team that includes a CQI Coordinator, Home Visiting Consultants, Research Scientists, and Student Workers work closely to support local family home visiting programs in building their CQI capacity by providing:
The MDH FHV Section is committed to the principles of CQI and supports efforts at both the state and local levels to improve the effectiveness and delivery of family home visiting services provided to families with young children.
These guiding principles include:
The Minnesota Department of Health uses many different resources to support CQI efforts, but several essentials will get you on the path to success when planning a CQI project. Family Home Visiting has created a CQI Toolkit, available on the FHV Toolkits page, with more information on CQI practice and essentials.