Key Concepts in Quality Improvement

Concepts for Quality Improvement

Quality improvement (QI) methods are not new; they are just relatively new to the healthcare industry and the field of radiology. As a result, there is currently a gap between the high desire and need to apply QI methods in daily practice and a lack of radiologists who are sufficiently trained in the proper use of these methods. In response to this gap, many medical schools and radiology residency programs have now started to teach QI methods to medical students and residents, and the American Board of Radiology (ABR) has incorporated QI into the certification exam curriculum.

Before delving into the study and application of QI methods, several key concepts in QI need to be understood. For example, to solicit and motivate a local QI team, one needs to understand and communicate the reasons why we embark on QI initiatives. A basic understanding of the major domains of QI is necessary when identifying QI projects that support the greater mission for improvement in healthcare. To execute QI methods successfully, several basic philosophical principles need to be applied and are described here.