261946 Evaluation and staff perceptions of a local health department quality improvement plan

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Ty Kane, MPH , Health Protection and Promotion, Sedgwick County Health Department, Wichita, KS
Background The Sedgwick County Health Department implemented its first Quality Improvement (QI) Plan in 2011. The purpose of the plan was to provide context and framework for QI activities at the agency. The plan was based on best practice examples (e.g. Spokane Regional Health Department and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department) and Public Health Accreditation Board, Standard 9.2 requirements and guidance.

Methods A project evaluation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the agency's 2011 QI plan. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the evaluation which focused on: QI culture; the eight factors for transformational change (Riley W., et al. 2010) and staff perceptions of QI-related activities. Staff perceptions were collected in three ways: A brief online survey; multiple brainstorming sessions and key informant interviews.

Results A total of ten Q-Team members participated in the brainstorming sessions, ninety-five staff completed the online survey and fifteen staff were targeted for the key informant interviews. Survey findings showed that most staff understood the QI plan requirement for training and activities (86%); felt their participation in QI activities was supported by their supervisor or peers (61%); and when asked about the amount of resources the agency dedicated to QI, responded that “we focus the right amount on QI” (62%). The brainstorming sessions prompted a number of changes to the QI project process, including: Greater accountability for project sustainability and follow-up; supervisor approval prior to starting a QI project; and more aggressive marketing of the QI program to “de-mystify QI” and further develop the culture.

Conclusions The 2011 quality improvement plan was a successful strategy for building the quality improvement culture, but regular adjustments to the plan should be expected to maximize buy-in and peformance.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe methods used to evaluate the agency's 2011 quality improvement plan. Identify two lessons learned from the quality improvement plan evaluations. Discuss how lessons learned will be implemented into the next iteration of the quality improvement plan.

Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the quality coordinator at Sedgwick County Health Department in Wichita, KS. In this role I have collaborated with other staff to implement strategies to develop a culture of quality improvement at the department. Examples of activities include: Recruiting and training a quality council; Developing and implementing an annual agency QI plan; developing and leading staff QI training.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.