Using collaborative improvement in a single organisation: improving anti‐coagulant care

Abstract

Improvements were delivered in the care of patients on anti‐coagulants through a collaborative improvement methodology within one primary care organisation. Although a key clinical governance priority, the project was conducted in a low‐key manner with minimal support. Practice teams were encouraged to apply evidence through small‐scale testing of changes, using measurements to monitor improvement and to share what they learned amongst themselves. No specific model of care was pursued and instead the emphasis was on demonstrating an improvement at the practice level, by whatever means worked best. The methodology used was similar to that applied in major national and regional collaborative programmes. This project demonstrates how it can be simplified and implemented within one primary care organisation to deliver improvements in care as well as to support the building of teams and learning about measurement and quality improvement.

Citation

Fraser, S., Wilson, T., Burch, K., Osborne, M. and Knightley, M. (2002), "Using collaborative improvement in a single organisation: improving anti‐coagulant care", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 152-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860210431814