Approaching the Practice Quality Improvement Project in Interventional Radiology.
An important component of maintenance of certification and quality improvement in radiology is the practice quality improvement (PQI) project. In this article, the authors describe several methodologies for initiating and completing PQI projects. Furthermore, the authors illustrate several tools that are vital in compiling, analyzing, and presenting data in an easily understandable and reproducible manner. Last, they describe two PQI projects performed in an interventional radiology division that have successfully improved the quality of care for patients. Using the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) quality improvement framework, interventional radiology throughput has been increased, to lessen mediport wait times from 43 to 8 days, and mediport infection rates have decreased from more than 2% to less than 0.4%.
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address: stephen.reis@utsouthwestern.edu.
Stephen P
SP
Reis
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Benjamin
B
White
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Patrick D
PD
Sutphin
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Anil K
AK
Pillai
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Sanjeeva P
SP
Kalva
Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Seth M
SM
Toomay
D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
ABR; DMAIC; Practice quality improvement project