title: Reviewing and improving a clinical effectiveness department's quality assurance model: lessons learned.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to reflect on and share learning during reviewing and improving one primary care trust's clinical effectiveness department quality assurance model. It is recognized that the existing model focused on quality guideline production whilst implementation was almost unaddressed further than dissemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the current strategy was conducted to identify the main issues followed by in-depth consideration and application of a new QA model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The case study reveals weaknesses in the existing QA model and potential improvements when a new QA model such as the European Foundation for Quality Management is applied--ensuring an outcome-based QA method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article will be valuable to individuals interested in proposing, developing, ratifying and disseminating clinical guidelines with the intention of improving clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004739:England; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine