What is Continuous Quality Improvement?

CQI is an approach to quality management that builds upon quality assurance methods emphasizing the organization and systems: it focuses on "process" rather than the individual; it recognizes both internal and external "customers"; it promotes the need for objective data to analyze and improve processes.
CQI contends that most things can be improved. This philosophy does not subscribe to the theory that "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." At the core of CQI is serial experimentation (test of change) applied to everyday work to meet the needs of those we serve and improve the services we offer.
CQI can be applied to the health center’s clinical, fiscal and operational practice.  Creating a silo within these areas can adversely impact the CQI process and impede the process for Continuous Quality Improvement within an organization.

Core Concepts of CQI

• Quality is defined as meeting and/or exceeding the expectations of our customers (patients, payers, HRSA).
• Success is achieved through meeting the needs of those we serve.
• Most problems are found in processes, not in people. CQI does not seek to blame, but rather to improve processes.
• Unintended variation in processes can lead to unwanted variation in outcomes, and therefore we seek to reduce or eliminate unwanted variation.
• It is possible to achieve continual improvement through small, incremental changes using the scientific method.
• Continuous improvement is most effective when it becomes a natural part of the way everyday work is done.

Core Steps in Continuous Improvement

• Form a team that has knowledge of the system needing improvement.
• Define a clear aim. Identify priority areas for improvement.
• Understand the needs of the people who are served by the system.
• Identify and define measures of success.
• Brainstorm potential change strategies for producing improvement.
• Plan, collect, and use data for facilitating effective decision making.
• Apply methods to test and refine changes.

CQI Kick-Off Event
In aligning with the Quality Improvement agenda set forth by HRSA, Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers convened their first face-to-face Clinical Quality Initiative meeting on May 17, 2007.  In preparation for this meeting a survey was distributed determining the needs of the health centers relative to their quality Improvement process.  The findings of this survey yielded priority areas such as Health Information Technology, Workforce Development including  Recruitment and Retention, and Process Improvement and the Business Case for Quality Improvement, Clinical Indicators Development inclusive of the Health Disparities Collaborative and Support for the CFO’s within health centers providing technical support for Finance.

As a result of the identified priority areas, sub-committees were developed supporting MACHC’s commitment to the CQI Process for Community Health Centers.