Quality Improvement in Arizona CAHs—System and Practice

Past Events | Future Events | Resources | Links

Health Services Advisory Group, Inc. (HSAG), in collaboration with The Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program, Rural Health Office, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, is conducting a one-year multi-method quality improvement project for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Arizona. The project is based on needs identified by hospital staff and leadership of participating hospitals. The primary objective of the project is to build the CAHs' quality improvement capabilities by providing participants with knowledge, skills, and tools they can use for designing, implementing, and "hardwiring"/maintaining system-level improvements.

The project design includes a series of interactive learning sessions that are enhanced with pre-session assignments and homework. Other complementary project methods include engaging CEOs through targeted communications, conducting individual follow-up phone consultations to provide technical assistance, and holding interactive group WebEx sessions to share barriers and lessons learned.

Past Events

• November 2, 2009: Kick-off WebEx
  • Agenda
  • Dr. Silvey—Infection Monitoring in Rural Hospitals: System and Practice
  • WebEx Recording

• November 19, 2009: Learning Session 1
  • Agenda
  • Dr. Silvey—Project Overview Presentation
  • Dr. Silvey—The Value of Guiding Principles and Leadership Engagement in Setting System-Level Aims
  • Model for Improvement Worksheet
  • Dr. Silvey—Introduction to Root Cause Analysis: Understanding the Causes of Events
  • Dr. Silvey—Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Improvement Model and Process Mapping
  • Meeting Fast Facts

• January 21, 2010: Learning Session 2—Refining and Measuring Your Process
  • Agenda
  • Dr. Silvey—Refining and Measuring your Process (MS PowerPoint)
  • Colorado River Service Unit Infection Monitoring Process
  • Colorado River Service Unit Aim Statement
  • Sage Memorial Hospital Isolation Precautions Process
  • Sage Memorial Hospital Aim Statement
  • Wickenburg Community Hospital Infection Monitoring Process
  • Wickenberg Community Hospital Aim Statement
  • Team Charter Template (MS Word)
  • Meeting Fast Facts

 <TOP>

---

Future Events

• February 23, 2010: WebEx #2
• April 8, 2010: Learning Session III
• May 4, 2010: WebEx #3
• July 13, 2010: WebEx #4

 <TOP>

---

Resources

CDC Guideline for Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel
CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmissions of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

 <TOP>

---

Links

Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program
Arizona Department of Health Services
Institute for Healthcare Improvement: How to Improve
Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program

 <TOP>