What is Quality Improvement (QI) in Healthcare?
QI is the combined efforts of all healthcare professionals, patients, researchers, payers, planners and educators to make improvements in our health care system that will lead to better patient outcomes, better system performance and better professional development (Qual Saf Health Care 2007;16:2-3 doi:10.1136/qshc.2006.022046).
What is Patient Safety (PS)?
PS is the prevention and mitigation of unsafe acts (such as diagnostic errors, medication errors, health care–associated infections, and postsurgical complications), within our health care system (http://www.accreditation.ca/knowledge-exchange/patient-safety/).
Quality Improvement (QI) Projects
QI projects are a great opportunity to gain practical experience in a health care setting. We give students access to resources that increase their understanding of quality improvement and patient safety, match students with a project and a health care champion, oversee the progression of the projects, and provide inter-team networking opportunities.
- Learn from champions in quality improvement
- Work on a project with a group of 5-6 students
- Address a real-world health care issue
- Create a project charter
- Research ideas for change
- Complete 2 Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles
- Write a final report and project