With the renewed national focus on the importance of quality improvement, considering the effect of pressure to improve on hospitals and staff is necessary to executing successful quality improvement, according to a Health Affairs blog post. The most effective strategies focus on smaller quality improvements rather than large overhauls.
The authors of the viewpoint noted that in the over 150 hospital worker interviews conducted, interviewees often described being overburdened before quality improvement initiatives. Many also commented quality improvement is necessarily a slow process.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
To overcome initiative fatigue, the authors suggest focusing on smaller improvements in the context of workflow management. Embedding quality initiatives in workflow processes helps reduce initiative fatigue as well as helps the activity take on a team focus and helps distribute the duties of projects more efficiently.
"Small successes develop trust and increase motivation for quality improvement work. Small wins, early on, develop trust and create an environment that can embolden more radical change," the authors wrote of focusing on seemingly minor improvements.
More Articles on Infection Control & Clinical Quality:
10 Most Read Quality Articles March 3-7
Cooley Dickenson Hospital Fined $6k for Hazardous Waste Infractions
10 Latest Infection Control Findings