AHS Department of Medicine :: Calgary, Alberta :: Quality Improvement

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First Annual Quality Improvement Competition now open, click here for more details

DOM QI Focus Areas for 2011-2012

The DOM Quality Improvement plan for 2011-2012 aligns with the AHS Transformational Improvement Program (TIPs). The DOM has chosen to focus on 3 specific areas:

  1. Examination and optimization of clinic flow within various divisions to look at improving access (decreasing wait times) to specialists.
  2. Collaborate with Seniors Health and AHS-Calgary operations on initiation of HELP (Hospital Elders Life Program) in order to help address issues around i) in-hospital delirium management; ii) ensuring Seniors are provided with patient-centered high quality care while in hospital; iii) hospital
    length of stay and downstream effects on ED wait times.
  3. Support of Divisional QI initiatives that focus in the areas of quality and access.

Divisional QI Leads

Division QI Lead
Dermatology Dr. Gilles Lauzon
Endocrinology Dr. Sonia Butalia
Gastroenterology To Be Determined
General Internal Medicine Dr. Aleem Bharwani
Geriatrics Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc
Hematology Dr. Karen Valentine
Infectious Diseases Dr. Donna Holton
Nephrology Dr. Rob Quinn
Respirology Dr Sachin Pendharkar
Rheumatology Dr. Susan Barr

Quality Improvement Quarterly Rounds Presentations available here

Quality Improvement Awards

Winner Organization Award
FMC Endoscopy Unit (GI) Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Participation in the Quality Endoscopy Program

Examples of Current Divisional QI Projects

The Division of Endocrinology has developed and is currently implementing and evaluating a basal bolus insulin protocol within the in-patient electronic medical record. This project is aimed at improving glucose control to hospitalized diabetics.

The Division of Gastroenterology is developing citywide acute care QI initiatives/reporting (including patient surveys; monitoring of sedation use; SLRs adaptation for more reliable reporting). There will be representation from each acute care site (including physician, nursing and administration representatives at each site).

The Division of General Internal Medicine is helping lead, in collaboration with AHS-Calgary Clinical Informatics, an initiative to develop and evaluate a discharge summary located on the in-patient electronic medical record. This initiative aims to improve communication during care transitions.

The Division of Geriatrics is collaborating with the University of Toronto on the development and evaluation of a Web portal that contains evidence-informed self-management tools for older adults with chronic diseases.

The Division of Infectious Diseases is implementing measures to decrease the wait times for first visit to HIV clinic and have been involved with changing the HIV test order form to improve test ordering within the province.

The Division of Nephrology is in the process of rolling out a web-based data collection platform (DMAR: Dialysis Measurement, Analysis, and Reporting system) to collect high quality data in everyday practice about the care of patients with kidney failure. This database will capture key adverse events and drivers of resource utilization and costs. The system is currently implemented in 7 regional dialysis programs in Ontario, the Province of Manitoba, and will
be piloted in Alberta this year.

Many divisions have implemented central triage and are working on referral pathways/algorithms/triage forms. Several clinics, with the assistance of AHS-IT and operations, will be implementing an electronic scheduler and ambulatory electronic medical record.

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