Multifocal Clinical Performance Improvement Across 21 Hospitals.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Crawford B; Skeath M; Whippy A
- Source
- Publisher: National Association For Healthcare Quality Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9202994 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1945-1474 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10622551 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Healthc Qual
- Subject
- Language
- English
Improving quality and safety across an entire healthcare system in multiple clinical areas within a short time frame is challenging. We describe our experience with improving inpatient quality and safety at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The foundations of performance improvement are a “four-wheel drive” approach and a comprehensive driver diagram linking improvement goals to focal areas. By the end of 2011, substantial improvements occurred in hospital-acquired infections (central-line–associated bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infections); falls; hospital-acquired pressure ulcers; high-alert medication and surgical safety; sepsis care; critical care; and The Joint Commission core measures.