The VHA New England Medication Error Prevention Initiative as a model for long-term improvement collaboratives.
BACKGROUND
Quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) are a widely applied strategy for implementing change in health care organizations. Alternative collaborative methodologies were compared to gain insight into the elements important for QIC success.


METHODS
A modified version of a previously described QIC evaluation tool was used to assess the methods and characteristics of the Medication Error Prevention Initiative (MEPI) and to compare MEPI with two other long-term ongoing QICs--the Vermont-Oxford Network's Neonatal Intensive Care QIC and the Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group, and the shorter-term Breakthrough Series QICs of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).


RESULTS
The modified QIC assessment tool was a useful framework for QIC assessment and comparison. The MEPI differed in scope of topic, team members, and the method for learning about and making improvements.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term QIC methods such as those used by MEPI may be particularly applicable when QICs address broad, complex, comprehensive, or organizationwide improvement needs.
Lesar
Timothy S
TS
Albany Medical Center, New York, USA. lesart@mail.amc.edu
Anderson
Ernest R
ER
Fields
John
J
Saine
Deborah
D
Gregoire
Jill
J
Fraser
Susan
S
Parkin
Maureen
M
Mattis
Arnold
A
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009511:New England; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017751:Safety Management; D017749:Total Quality Management