CQI 101

Learn the basics of the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process, key methods, tools and techniques to utilize in your CQI projects.

Brief Introduction to CQI History (49K)

Overview of CQI

Continuous quality improvement encompasses a wide variety of definitions to fit different organizations and situations. In general, continuous quality improvement (CQI) is the complete process of identifying, describing, and analyzing strengths/ problems and then testing, implementing, learning from, and revising solutions to enhance the overall quality of a product or service.

It relies on an organizational culture that is proactive and supports continuous learning. CQI is firmly grounded in the overall mission, vision, and values of the agency, company, healthcare organization, etc.   It is dependent upon the active inclusion and participation of staff at all levels throughout the process.

CQI is not a time limited project or initiative. It is the ongoing process by which an organization makes decisions and evaluates its progress.  Creating a comprehensive CQI system takes a significant amount of time and effort. Any organization implementing CQI can expect the process will go through several stages of evolution and development. Thus, the implementation of CQI requires sustained and committed leadership.

Why is CQI Important?

The key to CQI lies in acknowledging and treating those closest to the work (e.g., healthcare staff, children, families and stakeholders) as the true “experts” in the work. It creates an environment in which those who are closest to the work are also actively engaged in assessing the outcomes of practices, programs, and policies, and making improvements based on those assessments.

Moreover, CQI transforms organizations that are compliance - focused into true learning organizations that rely on their mission, vision, and values to constantly improve their practices.

The following online resources will provide you with a good amount of history, tools and techniques developed and used in the field of Continuous Quality Improvement.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/quality.html
The AAFP is committed to preserving and promoting quality, cost-effective health care by family physicians with scientifically valid and relevant continuing education, programs and tools to assess and improve the quality of health care provided to patients, and representation and partnerships with other organizations dedicated to providing quality care to patients.  This website provides online educational resources and tools to help you on your quest to provide optimal patient care in your practice.

American Society for Quality (ASQ)
http://www.asq.org
The ASQ, comprised of more than 100,000 individual and organizational members, is a professional association with the mission to advance learning, quality improvement, freely exchange knowledge to improve business results, and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide.  This website provides educational resources that address all areas of quality, from basic concepts to implementation techniques.

Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement (CPQI)
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/centers/cqpi
Based at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the CPQI has been at the forefront of the quality revolution since 1985.  In the beginning, the CPQI directed their efforts to develop new techniques for improving the quality of products and processes.  Since then, the CPQI has branched out to improve the quality in areas such as work processes, working life and healthcare.  This website offers reports and courses to expand your current knowledge base.

Center for Quality of Management
http://www.cqm.org
Founded in 1989 by CEOs and senior executives from seven major New England companies, this non-profit organization promotes mutual learning through educational programs, advising services, research initiatives, and networking events.  These companies combined their efforts to study and implement cutting-edge management practices.  This website offers online access to articles and templates useful in implementing CQI projects.

Curious Cat Management Improvement Library
http://curiouscat.net/library
This website is a portal for Management Improvement Professionals.  It provides an encyclopedia of management terms, a management improvement blog and links to hundreds of documents by the top minds in the field.  You can also access the Six Sigma Resource Center from this website.  Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects in any process (typically used in manufacturing).

Free Management Library
http://www.managementhelp.org
This library is a free community resource to be shared and contributed to by users and readers across the world.  The overall goal of the library is to provide leaders and managers (especially those with very limited resources) basic and practical information about personal, professional and organizational development. Items in the library are relevant to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations unless otherwise stated.

The Juran Institute
http://www.juran.com
Dr. J.M. Juran has been called the "father" of quality.  He is recognized as the person who added the human dimension to quality management broadening it from its statistical origins.  In 1979, Dr. Juran founded the Juran Institute, an organization aimed at providing research and pragmatic solutions to enable organizations from any industry to learn the tools and techniques for managing quality.  The basics for his work is defined in the famous Juran Quality Handbook and, most recently, Six Sigma Breakthrough & Beyond.  This website is a portal to services, products, papers and workshops for any person wishing to pursue higher learning in this field.

A Leadership Guide to Quality Improvement for Emergency Medical Services Systems
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/leaderguide/index.html
This leadership guide was developed in 1997 to serve as a template for EMS managers who want to establish and maintain a program for continuously monitoring and improving the quality of patient care and support services in all parts of the EMS system. It encourages EMS leaders to integrate continuous quality improvement practices as essential parts of normal EMS routines.  This resource provides a historical view of quality improvement, quality tools and techniques and a process for accessing progress in quality improvement initiatives.

Loyola University Health System’s Center for Clinical Effectiveness (CCE)
http://www.luhs.org/depts/cce/index.htm
The mission of the CCE is to catalyze improvement in the quality and value of health care services provided in the Loyola University Health System.  The CCE website offers a wide variety of CQI tools such as a set of guiding principles that offer the “big picture” perspective, a comprehensive tool kit (that includes a step-by-step approach to quality improvement in a healthcare setting) and other extremely helpful organizational tools that allow you to prioritize your potential QI projects.

National EMSC Data Analysis Resource Center  (NEDARC)
http://www.nedarc.org/QI/default.htm
NEDARC is committed to improving the quality of care in the EMS system, especially for children. This group helps to enhance the ability at state level to collect, link and analyze data; to respond to, develop and answer appropriate policy and research questions; conduct appropriate program evaluation; and to apply that information to devising effective quality improvements in the EMS system.  The website offers general quality improvement education as well as a wide variety of data services support.

The W. Edwards Deming Institute
http://www.deming.org
The W. Edwards Deming Institute® was founded by Dr. Deming in 1993. The Institute is a nonprofit corporation that provides educational services related to the teachings of Dr. Deming. These services include conferences and seminars. The aim of the Institute is to foster understanding of The Deming System of Profound Knowledge™ to advance commerce, prosperity and peace. 

Further QI resources can be accessed from the WWW Links/Resources page of the EMSC Website.