How to do QI (and get MOC credits too!)
Is there an area of your practice that you would like to evaluate and improve? Are you looking for guidance on how to initiate an improvement project and achieve better patient outcomes? The Royal College can help.
Explore a comprehensive and easy-to-follow process as well as practical tools to start your own quality improvement (QI) project: How to do QI.
QI as part of the renewed CPD Strategy
Launched in September 2021, Essential Guidance for Quality Improvement offers an introduction to the principles of QI as part of a broader Continuous Professional Development (CPD) strategy. The strategy aims to be more relevant, improvement-focused and user-friendly, enabling you to achieve care outcomes and/or personal-professional growth for you and your patients.
Whether you are new to QI or a seasoned practitioner, this “how to” section will help you build a solid foundation to embark upon a quality improvement initiative in any health care role, such as teaching, academic, clinical, or primary care.
How to start a QI initiative
Visit How to do QI to learn about a systematic approach and access practical tools that will guide you from start to finish.
While many established QI models exist, each with distinct strengths and attributes, The Ottawa Hospital Innovation Framework™ is a health care-centric, five-step approach that combines elements of other well-known models in a comprehensive and user-friendly way.
Here are the framework’s five steps to follow for your QI initiative:
- define the problem,
- analyze the situation,
- test and trial improvements,
- lock-in improvements, and
- evaluate and spread the improvements.
Each step is accompanied by useful tools, templates and reference materials that provide the guidance you need to move through every stage. Watch the video to learn how to move through all the steps from start to finish.
“Physicians have always been adapting their practice to changing evidence, new medications, new technologies or external events,” said Lucie Filteau, MD, FRCPC, and advisor to the Royal College. “I want people to realize that they are already doing QI.”
The key to a successful experience is to start small. Look for a modest project to undertake and gain experience with the approach. Gradually, as your comfort with the QI process grows, consider embarking on larger projects independently or in collaboration with others.
Receive MOC credits for your efforts
QI is one way of reporting the meaningful learning that you already do. Fundamentally, QI is continuously recognizing and seeking ways to improve on the great care you provide.
While you already engage in quality improvement for your patients, your team, your department or for yourself, you can also use these activities to claim credits toward the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. Completed professional practice improvement activities (personal or group project) are eligible for Section 3: Assessment credits.
QI initiatives not only lead to improved patient care, but also to personal learning and development – recognize your accomplishment and receive MOC credits for your efforts!
