Population health promotion
through quality improvement
Applying the science of quality improvement (QI) "to contribute to improving systems of patient care" is integral to the CanMEDS Leader role.
Initiatives, such as Doctors of BC Physician Quality Improvement and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim recognize physicians require added support for the capacity to maintain this competency.
Get the help you need:
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generating focused clinical queries relevant to your practice
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identifying ways to improve patient data capture and organization in your EMR
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presenting findings with preliminary recommendations for action using SQUIRE guidelines
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designing and implementing processes to ameliorate the impact of human and system factors on performance​
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Wish to conduct more in-depth QI research (e.g., health economics and outcomes research) and need assistance with document preparation? Please see "Research Reports", under Medical Writing.
QI Guidance
Clinician adherence to Canadian diabetes screening guidelines among pregnant Indigenous women
Project: Canadian clinical practice guidelines for type 2 diabetes and Indigenous peoples were released in April 2018. We evaluated clinician adherence to these guidelines for pregnant Indigenous women from April 1, 2018 to Dec 16, 2021 to improve their health outcomes.
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Actions: Presented results and recommendations to practice partners, leading to an optimized automated EMR reminder to offer Indigenous patients gestational diabetes screening at their first prenatal visit. Reassessment planned in 1 year.
Clinician utilization of the PHQ-9 to aid in diagnosis & monitoring of major depressive disorder (MDD)
Project: Use of the PHQ-9 to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of MDD is a key recommendation of BC Guidelines. We assessed the use of the PHQ-9 in non-pregnant patients aged 19-65 diagnosed with MDD over three 4-month periods during their first year of diagnosis from April 1, 2016 to April 1, 2017 and evaluated if there was a difference in time to remission between cohorts.
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Actions: TBA
Patient morbidity and mortality associated with a novel colorectal surgical technique
Project: We assessed short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality rates among all patients who underwent transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) and compared them with the published rates of other high-volume centres.
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Actions: Presented findings and recommendations to practice partners, leading to refined selection of candidates eligible to undergo specific TAMIS procedures and provision of more accurate surgeon-specific rates of risk during consent discussions.