A simple framework for complex system improvement.
The need to rapidly improve health care value is unquestioned, but the means to accomplish this task is unknown. Improving performance at the level of the health care organization frequently involves multiple interventions, which must be coordinated and sequenced to fit the specific context. Those responsible for achieving large-scale improvements are challenged by the lack of a framework to describe and organize improvement strategies. Drawing from the fields of health services, industrial engineering, and organizational behavior, a simple framework was developed and has been used to guide and evaluate improvement initiatives at an academic health center. The authors anticipate that this framework will be helpful for health system leaders responsible for improving health care quality.
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI UW Health, Quality, Safety and Innovation, Middleton, WI UW Health, Primary Care Academics Transforming Healthcare, Madison, WI.
Sally
S
Kraft
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
Pascale
P
Carayon
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
Jennifer
J
Weiss
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI UW Health, Primary Care Academics Transforming Healthcare, Madison, WI nancy.pandhi@fammed.wisc.edu.
Nancy
N
Pandhi
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D007858:Learning; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D057188:Workflow
academic medical center; quality improvement; quality management framework