Our objectives are:
- To ensure that the most effective care is delivered
- To minimize care that has no value to the patient
- To thereby reduce waste and inefficiency
- To create a climate of change and continuous improvement within the Child Health Program, and ultimately
- To develop the Child Health Program as a learning organization
Management within the Child Health Program recognizes the business imperative and the need for change, and strongly supports this initiative.
The Quality team will focus on indicators reflecting the four dimensions of quality (AIM, Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation). In the first instance, priority will be given to indicators that were identified as concerns in the recent CCHSA accreditation. We are assisting clinical teams to choose strategic indicators that reflect the mission and vision statements of the organization, that are important to patients, families and to staff, that require improvement, and that have the potential to respond to simple measures that can be taken within months.
There is great enthusiasm and recognition of the importance of this initiative among front-line staff. However, there is little expertise or experience with quality improvement techniques and in particular with the Balanced Scorecard. There is a real need for orientation, education and teambuilding. We have therefore provided workshops for patient care and subspecialty teams, with the objectives of increasing knowledge and obtaining commitment to measurement and process improvement of key drivers. This is the first of many planned educational initiatives.
Our long-term goal is to develop a culture of excellence based on quality improvement in every domain of the AIM concepts: system competency, responsiveness, client/community focus, and worklife. Such a learning culture will lead to more effective and efficient care that will benefit our patients, their families, and our staff. Our communication strategy will also help to restore the public trust so damaged by the events of 1994.
Mission
Our mission is to provide the following services to the Child Health Program at WRHA:
- Quality Improvement
- Standards
- Risk Management
- Decision Support
- Accreditation Support
CHQT Values
- Leadership
- Empowerment
- Respect
- Systems thinking
- Quality
- Integrity
- Creativity
- Open and effective Communication
- Balance between work and personal life
- Environmental responsibility
Resources
The following are powerpoint presentations describing the goals and objectives of the Child Health Quality team as well as individual unit assessments of quality improvement.
- Beginning the Quality Journey
- Quality Improvement and the Balanced Scorecard
- Families in NICU Rounds: Are we really there for you?
- Pediatric Cardiology in Manitoba: the past, the present, the future
Links
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
One of the best sources of information on quality improvement in health care. Contains many useful links and materials. Annual Forum is an excellent conference.
QNET (Manitoba Quality Network)
QNET is a local organization affiliated with the American Society for Quality. The Child Health Quality Team holds a membership. QNET offers frequent workshops and conferences in Winnipeg and has a comprehensive resource centre which members can access for a nominal fee.