Pathways to quality improvement for boarding homes: a Washington State model

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Quality Improvement Science

Background:

• Boarding homes provide essential services to vulnerable populations.
• Ensuring quality of life, care, and safety in these settings is a significant challenge.
• A structured approach is needed to address resident needs effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a quality improvement (QI) service delivery model for boarding homes.
• To assess the impact of standardized QI pathways on resident outcomes.
• To improve quality of life, quality of care, and safety for residents in boarding homes.

Main Methods:

• A QI service delivery model was implemented in a consultation program.
• Standardized QI pathways were used to identify resident issues.
• 126 boarding homes participated, receiving on-site QI consultant visits.

Main Results:

• After six months, 78% of participating residents showed objective clinical improvement.
• The QI pathways facilitated the identification and resolution of resident needs.
• Participating homes were assisted in meeting statutory requirements.

Conclusions:

• The QI service delivery model effectively improved resident outcomes in boarding homes.
• Utilizing QI pathways is a viable strategy to enhance residents' quality of life, care, and safety.
• This model offers a scalable solution for improving care in residential facilities.