Quality Improvement (QI) is the establishment of a program or process to manage change and achieve quality improvement in public health policies, programs, or infrastructure based on performance standards, measures, and reports.
QI in public health is the use of a deliberate and defined improvement process, such as Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA), that responds to community needs and improves population health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, QI refers to a continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes, and other indicators of quality to achieve equity and improve health.
In a performance management system, QI strategies should be integrated into ongoing progress monitoring. Additionally, as performance measures change, QI processes should be reassessed to ensure that they support efforts to meet performance standards. Successful QI is developed with a focus on related performance measures and data from periodic progress reports. For those interested in integrating QI into their performance management system, PHF offers tools, stories, and training to help organizations at all stages of QI.
Quality Improvement Resources:
The ABCs of PDCA
This article is an introduction to the PDCA cycle, a QI method that helps to improve processes and eliminate inefficiencies in health departments.
Key Ingredients in Public Health Quality Improvement
To support health departments’ efforts to implement QI,
this guide lists factors that contribute to successful QI endeavors.
QI Quick Guide and Tutorial
The QI Quick Guide is a web-based guide that addresses a need identified by public health practitioners for assistance in determining which resources to use as they pursue QI initiatives. It includes a brief tutorial to help newcomers get started with QI concepts.
South Carolina’s Quality Improvement Experience: Videos
These three educational videos about the QI experience feature the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and depict the importance of QI in performance management endeavors.
The Team Process Review ChecklistIt is important to take a team approach to performance management.
The Team Process Review Checklist can help you make sure essential items are in place for launching a team.
The Four Stages of Group DevelopmentTeams can use
this tool and
accompanying article to assess group development and identify next steps for success.
Quality Improvement Tools to Advance Public Health Performance
This microsite houses many tools developed and refined by PHF, which have been categorized into QI tools for leadership development, team management, strategic planning, and several others.
Performance Management PDCA Self-Assessment
This assessment tool is based on a performance management model that follows a QI cycle in which organizational performance information is analyzed to improve future decisions.