title: Essentials of navigating and teaching surgical quality improvement.
abstract: Quality improvement (QI) has become a focus of contemporary surgical practice. The purpose of this review is to provide a framework of working knowledge regarding QI for the practicing surgeon. QI design, implementation methods, measurement tactics, statistical analysis, and presentation tools based on the Institute of Healthcare Improvement model are reviewed. Additional principles to optimize QI success such as fostering communication, building a culture of QI, leadership involvement, and financial planning are also explored. Lastly, resources for QI education and teaching are provided for those interested in learning more about this expanding field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, 1405 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322. Electronic address: mehulvraval@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Mehul V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Raval
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kenney
mesh_terms: D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Education; Pediatric surgery; Quality improvement