Friday, July 13, 2007: 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Quality Improvement Approach Accelerates Implementation of Evidenced Based Practices within an Interdisciplinary Cystic Fibrosis Team
Learning Objective #1: Develop strategies to engage team members in evidenced based practice.
Learning Objective #2: Develop methods for establishing a team collaborative for small improvement projects.
In the Spring of 2004 the UAB/Children’s Hospital (UAB/CHS) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center was accepted in the Leadership and Learning Collaborative II (LLC II) sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Techniques adapted by the UAB/CHS CF Center have led to improvements in patient outcomes. However, equally impressive as improved patient outcomes is the creation of a culture of improvement. This culture has developed as the three members of the UAB/CHS CF team who participated in LLC II have shared QI techniques and results with the larger CF team, hospital administration, patients, and families as well as other CF teams. Education of the extended CF team began with monthly sessions to disseminate clinical, research, and QI knowledge. In October 2005, education expanded to a QI collaborative involving six small teams within the UAB/CHS system assigned to work with CF patients. These teams assembled to learn and apply QI techniques to improve an area of CF healthcare delivery. The learning process included an educational session to describe QI techniques, assignments with deadlines, and individual coaching sessions. The results of the collaborative led to improvements in the process of CF care delivery as well as developing leaders in evidence based practice. The recognition of improvement opportunities has transformed the UAB/CHS CF team into a leader in innovation. The team has also become a resource for students needing research opportunities, other care teams needing assistance with QI, CF centers in the southeast United States, and a consultant for international CF centers.
Organizer:	LaCrecia J. Britton, RN, MSN, CPNP-AC/PC
Presenters:	Hector H. Gutierrez, MD Staci A. Thrasher, LGSW