Quality Improvement is the future for the Vascular Society
Thank you to all those who attended our Quality Improvement Introductory Session at RCP on Monday the 5th July. We’ve had great feedback from the day and it has provided us with an understanding on the fundamentals of Quality Improvement (QI), strategies for implementation and new directions for the National AAA Quality Improvement Programme.
It is clear that Quality Improvement is not a passing phase but is firmly embedded in the future. With the new Government making further cuts to Health Care budgets, there is a greater drive and focus on QI within the NHS. The Health Foundation who funded the AAA QIP receives no cuts. It started as a significantly endowed, fully independent healthcare charitable trust, as a result of the sale of the PPP Healthcare group. The Trust was endowed with the proceeds of the sale, amounting to some £540 million. By the end of 2009, the value of the Foundation’s endowment was £675 million. They continue to launch new schemes with the core purpose of improving health and the quality of healthcare.
The Vascular Society has already submitted a further grant application for amputations and plans to make Quality Improvement a regular part of the Society’s activities. We are also moving towards a plan for a National Quality and Innovation Award. The award ceremony is proposed to be linked to the Circulation Foundation Award dinner/VS AGM. Therefore, a better understanding of QI methodologies as well as involvement in implementation is encouraged for all members. We recommend attendance to future QI sessions to provide a basic grounding, opportunity to discuss issues with fellow members and become actively involved in the AAA QIP.
It was clear from the session that we needed to more clearly define our aims, measures and interventions for the AAA QIP. As agreed by several members our refined aim is detailed below:
To reduce the elective mortality for AAA repair in the UK to 3.5% by 2013 (Infrarenal AAA only/ excludes urgent symptomatic unruptured AAA).
- Elective admissions
- Elective repair
- Unruptured AAA
Moving forward, we plan to populate driver diagrams and seek feedback from meeting attendees as to what should be included in a care bundle as part of the AAA QIP. We are also looking for centres to carry out small tests of change and provide feedback on protocols and care bundles developed as part of the National Project. We look forward to working with all VS members to improve the quality of care for Vascular patients.
Handouts and QI Templates from the day:
Download Quality Improvement handout (pdf)
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