Safety and Quality Improvement in Health and Social Care

National Practice Management MeetingMarch 23rd, 2013

Marie Kehoe O’Sullivan Director of Safety and Quality Improvement

14 November2012

Directorates in HIQA

Safety and Quality Improvement

Regulation

Health Information

Health Technology Assessment

Functions

Setting Standards in health and social carePromoting capacity and capabilityDriving patient safety initiativesSupporting a culture of patient safetySharing the learning from the AuthorityDeveloping Guidance to Standards

High Reliability Healthcare

Safety

Quality

Reliability

Culture of Learning

Informed Decision-Making

Systems and processes are only as good as the people

who work within them

COMMUNICATIONS

LEADERSHIP

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM WORKING

BEHAVIOURS

CULTURERELATIONSHIPS

Role of Standards

It is a key driver in quality and safetyActs as an impetus to recognise good practice and address poor performance

Responsive RegulationEnsures that only fit providers/professionals are providing services, care and supportShould be fair, proportionate, risk-based and objective

Regulatory Pyramid

punishment

Shame for inaction

Education and Persuasion about a problem

Responsive Regulation

awards

Informal praise for progress

Education and persuasion about a strength

National Standards for Better Safer Healthcare

Quality Dimensions:• Person-Centred Care and Support

• Effective Care and Support

• Safe Care and Support

• Better Health and Well-being

National Standards for Better Safer Healthcare

Delivering the Quality Dimensions – delivering improvements within the dimensions depends on capability and capacity in four key areas:

• Leadership, Governance and Management• Workforce• Use of Resources• Use of Information

National Standards

for Safer Better

Healthcare:

Themes

Working Together

Opportunities for Working Together – The How

Regular engagement and information sharingInvolvement and consultation on the development of new activitiesInforming required guidanceOpen door for discussions on improving quality and safetyProvide education, awareness and training on QI methodologiesPromote national QI initiatives

Opportunities for Working Together – The Who

Clinical Engagement as a priorityLink with all professional collegesLink with unionsMeetings with CMO, CNO, Pharmacist, Ambulance and allied health professionalsOngoing relationship with frontline staff and middle management on Patient Safety and Quality initiatives

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort,

intelligent direction and skilful execution. It represents the wise choice of many

alternatives. . .

 

Quality also marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and

mere usefulness achieved.”

William A. Foster, 1917-1945