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March 17, 2021

CQIP participants able to teach, lead quality improvement projects after graduation: survey

Photo Credit: I Spy Imagery

Participants of the Clinical Quality Improvement Program (CQIP) are leveraging their learnings to teach and mentor others in quality improvement after graduating the program. This is one of the key findings coming from the 12-month follow-up survey for Cohort 3 CQIP participants.

The purpose of the evaluation is to understand how CQIP participants have applied the knowledge and skills they learned to their practices and how that’s impacted their workplaces.

Shari Furniss, HQC Learning and Development Director, said participants are provided with many learning opportunities during this 10-month course. She explained these results show how CQIP has prepared participants to lead, serve and teach quality improvement methodology.

“The goal of CQIP is to develop quality improvement science and leadership abilities in participants. The survey results suggest there are a variety of ways participants are involved in quality improvement opportunities within the health care system in Saskatchewan once they complete the program,” Furniss said. “I am pleased that the skills and knowledge learned through CQIP are being used well after participants graduate from the program.”

Similar to results coming from the previous two cohorts, Cohort 3 respondents reported they appreciated learning about how to use quality improvement tools and methods, as well as how improvements impact the people that make up the system. Highlights from the survey results include:

  • 90% have been involved in teaching quality improvement in some capacity since graduating the program
  • 73% are incorporating patient and family-centred principles into improvement work
  • 73% are using data to understand and analyze variation in health care
  • 73% indicated they have led or consulted on other QI projects outside of their CQIP project, of which 71% were in lead or co-lead roles
  • 73% are supporting a team towards identifying and achieving a quality improvement aim

“I’m encouraged when I see results like 90 per cent of participants saying they’re not only learning about quality improvement, but are then able to teach and coach it in some capacity after the program is completed,” Furniss said, adding this demonstrates the success of CQIP. “The quality improvement community in Saskatchewan already has more than 80 leaders strong and I’m excited to see the improvements that will be made throughout the health care system as that number grows.”

Initially the Cohort 3 survey was scheduled to be sent out June 1, 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the survey was delayed until mid-August. The survey was sent to the 29 participants who completed the program in full. Eleven participants completed the survey, for a response rate of 38.9 per cent.

Results from Cohort 3 are included as an appendix to the 12 Month Follow-Up Survey Results for the Clinical Quality Improvement Program: Cohorts 1 & 2 document.

Background 

CQIP is an applied learning program designed to build leadership in quality improvement work in clinicians. It enables participants to incorporate continuous quality improvement initiatives into their practice. The program delivery is coordinated by the Saskatchewan Health Quality Council (HQC) and is offered through a partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Medical Association and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.  

Modelled on the internationally recognized mini-Advanced Training Program at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, Saskatchewan’s CQIP program combines classroom and online learning with individual coaching and a community of practice. CQIP is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In 2018, the program received praise from an external evaluation conducted by Dr. Lois Berry. 

Participants of CQIP’s fifth cohort have already been selected and the next wave is expected to begin in the spring of 2021. To be notified when applications for Cohort 6 are open, please click here to add your name to the waitlist.