Using the quality improvement cycle on clinical indicators--improve or remove?
The variable life-adjusted display is a graphical, statistical methodology used in Queensland to monitor patient outcomes of clinical indicators. The quality improvement cycle is a systematic approach employed by patient safety and quality programs worldwide to improve patient care. The quality improvement cycle is beneficial to the review and refinement of indicator definitions. Indicators with definitional issues that are not subject to the quality improvement cycle may initially prompt quality improvement opportunities, but are more likely to potentially lead to unnecessary chart and clinical reviews, which will disengage coders and clinicians. Queensland recently used the quality improvement cycle to refine the laparoscopic cholecystectomy complications of surgery indicator definition and several maternity definitions.
Centre for Healthcare Improvement, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Kirstine_Sketcher-Baker@health.qld.gov.au
Kirstine M
KM
Sketcher-Baker
Maarten C
MC
Kamp
Julia A
JA
Connors
Don J
DJ
Martin
Justin E
JE
Collins
D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011793:Queensland; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*