Collect | Measure | Improve
By Wesley Folds
Administrators and imaging managers are familiar with the ever-present need to assess and improve the quality of care provided to patients. Diagnostic imaging is particularly prone to human factors that can lead to variations from image acquisition to reporting. When armed with Quality Improvement (QI) data, managers are empowered to actively seek out and implement changes that can lead to continuous improvement. The ability to identify specific areas for improvement, understand the impact of current processes and make data-driven decisions ultimately results in better patient outcomes.
It is clear that measuring image quality and reporting leads to continuous improvement, resulting in positive impact on diagnoses and treatment plans. That said, whether a facility provides echocardiography, vascular testing, nuclear/PET, MRI and/or CT, in today’s environment of staffing shortages and increased patient loads, it can be easy to fall behind on the performance of incremental QI initiatives. Having the right tools in place can make the process much less daunting. Explaining the goal of QI initiatives can be as simple as summarizing them to the team as “How are we doing?” and “How can we do it better?”, along with a facility-wide agreement that quality improvement is a never-ending process.
Leadership has a strong role in establishing a culture of quality to facilitate the success of QI initiatives. Championing the QI efforts, by supporting an environment where staff feel empowered to identify problems and propose solutions, can make all the difference.
QI initiatives in health care are based on a cyclical process of collecting data, measuring performance against established benchmarks and implementing targeted improvements to achieve desired outcomes:
COLLECT: The very first component, data collection, proves to be an obstacle for many. Keeping data collection straightforward and user-friendly can help minimize stress. A consistent format to record the data must be established and the data collection should include all variables relevant to what is being measured. It is optimal to over-gather data, rather than having to go back and collect more. Data separates what is thought to be happening from what is really happening.
MEASURE: Effective measurement of quality improvement metrics is critical to drive meaningful change toward positive outcomes. Data analytics should focus on aspects that have the greatest impact on patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
IMPROVE: The intentional periodic evaluation and transparent communication of QI data to all stakeholders will support a culture of quality, leading to continuous improvement.
IAC Quality Improvement (QI) Self-Assessment Tool
While you have likely heard of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) as an accrediting body, did you know we offer a Quality Improvement (QI) tool? Whether your facility participates in the IAC accreditation process or not, the tool is accessible to all and free to use.
The IAC Quality Improvement (QI) Self-Assessment Tool simplifies the internal review process by focusing on case studies and providing a standardized workflow for assessing four quality metrics:
- test appropriateness;
- technical quality and safety;
- interpretive quality; and
- report timeliness and completeness.
The tool allows facilities to critically assess their imaging studies and reports, providing a data-driven, objective measure of QI status and progress. It helps facilities visually benchmark findings (through charts and graphs), track QI progress and generate quantitative reports that pinpoint areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing patient care.
Results of a study published in the July/September 2019 issue of Quality Management in Health Care, “Usefulness of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) Quality Improvement Self-Assessment Tool After 1 Year”, summarized respondents’ perceptions of the effectiveness and usefulness of the tool. There was a high level of agreement that the tool is easy to use (91.8%), encouraged critical thinking (90.3%) and the activity was worthwhile (89.6%). In addition, IAC often hears reports of satisfaction from users of the QI tool. They remark on characteristics such as the comprehensiveness of the tool, enabling all aspects from image quality to reporting to be assessed on a single platform. Many report finding value in the scores received through the tool, enabling ease in monitoring and progress tracking.
As an added benefit, the use of the IAC QI Tool can be utilized as a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Improvement Activity to satisfy a component of the MIPS Improvement Activity score.
Conclusion
Regardless of the tools we use, when QI data is used to integrate improvements such as standardized processes, making data-driven decisions and fostering commitment from staff, we’re all doing our best to not only care for our patients, but to offer that care at the highest level possible. •
For more info, visit intersocietal.org.
intersocietal.org/value-added-services/qitool
Wesley Folds, BS, CNMT, NCT, is the Interim Director of Accreditation for the IAC Nuclear/PET accreditation program. Previously serving as an IAC Nuclear/PET application reviewer, he joined the IAC as a Clinical Specialist in 2022. Mr. Folds is an experienced nuclear medicine technologist and has overseen quality improvement (QI) projects and radiation safety training in previous positions.
