Hospital responses to a data-driven statewide quality improvement project.
BACKGROUND
The overall success of any continuous quality improvement (CQI) project lies in the ability to measure changes resulting from the project and to show that changes have resulted n improved care.


METHODS
A software tool was developed to categorize hospital responses and activities implemented by hospitals as a result of the Cooperative Cardiovascular Project CCP). Information was captured regarding the hospital's acceptance of data and the educational/interventional strategies implemented. Hospital size, number of acute myocardial infarction patients treated, indicator performances, and type of presentation given (on-site versus regional visit) was entered to allow analysis of factors affecting the response.


RESULTS
sixty-one of 107 hospitals responded to the peer review organization. Of those, 49% planned further educational activities and 75% planned to implement some form of CQI activity. Comparison of responses in relation to the type of presentation received suggested that on-site presentations are associated with higher response rates and more intense quality improvement efforts. This also could be attributed to other factors such as hospital size, teaching environment, or number of acute myocardial infarction patients treated.


CONCLUSIONS
The system developed allowed us to collate hospital improvement efforts as a result of CCP. The system is limited in its ability to identify those activities taking place before CCP. Further development and refinement of the tool is warranted to document quality improvement efforts and determine best strategies for peer review organization intervention.
Wallace
R G
RG
Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation, Inc., Birmingham 35243, USA.
Farmer
R M
RM
Craig
A S
AS
Kiefe
C
C
D000043:Abstracting and Indexing; D000407:Alabama; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017749:Total Quality Management