Summary
This Health Foundation has produced a guide to the main approaches to improving quality, explaining the origins and underlying principles of the dominant schools of thought. The efficacy and applicability of these ideas for healthcare are discussed.
Reference
Quality improvement made simple: what everyone should know about healthcare quality improvement. London: The Health Foundation, August 2013.
Systematic Review of the Application of the Plan-Do-Study-Act Method to Improve Healthcare Quality
This review proposes a theoretical framework for assessing the quality of application of PDSA cycles. It advocates the development of systematic and rigorous standards for the application and reporting of PDSAs.
“The PDSA method should be applied with greater consistency and with greater accordance to guidelines provided by founders and commentators”.
Reference
Taylor, MJ. McNicholas, C. [and] Nicolay, C. [et al] (2013). Systematic review of the application of the plan-do-study-act method to improve quality in healthcare. BMJ Quality and Safety, September 11th 2013, [Epub ahead of print]. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).
Using Clinical Communities to Improve Quality (Health Foundation)
This Health Foundation report explains, at a general level, the clinical community (multi-site) approach to achieving quality improvements in healthcare.
Reference
Using clinical communities to improve quality. London: Health Foundation, December 2013.
Quality Improvement Terms Used in Medical Scientific Research Contexts
Possibly also of interest, a history of ideas article in the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Journal of Oncology Practice:
Reference
Parry, GJ. (2014). A brief history of quality improvement. Journal of Oncology Practice. May 2014, 10(3), pp.196-9.
History of Ideas
This exploration into the history of lean and quality improvement ideas is free; it only requires registration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) for access:
Reference
Scoville, R. [and] Little, K. (2014). Comparing Lean and Quality Improvement. IHI White Paper. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement, September 2014.
