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Related Experiment Videos

Using a virtual breakthrough series collaborative to improve access in primary care.

Barbara Boushon1, Lloyd Provost, Janice Gagnon

  • 1Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
|October 28, 2006
PubMed
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Virtual Breakthrough Series (VBTS) projects achieved significant healthcare improvements, comparable to in-person collaboratives but at a lower cost. Key success factors include leadership support and IT infrastructure.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare Improvement Science
  • Quality Improvement Methodologies

Background:

  • The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) developed the Breakthrough Series (BTS) for rapid, significant improvement in healthcare settings.
  • A virtual version of the BTS (VBTS) was implemented to assess its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual Breakthrough Series (VBTS) model for improving primary care access and efficiency.
  • To compare VBTS outcomes and costs with traditional collaborative models.

Main Methods:

  • A VBTS model was piloted with 20 healthcare organizations focused on primary care access and efficiency.
  • The VBTS utilized internet and telephone communication, including Web-based collaboration software and audioconferencing.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • For 17 completing organizations, the average wait for the third-next-available appointment decreased from 23 to 10 days.
  • 59% of teams reported significant improvement (Level 4+), with sustained outcomes in 70% of those achieving success six months post-VBTS.
  • VBTS offered potential direct cost savings of approximately $12,000 compared to traditional collaboratives.

Conclusions:

  • Virtual Breakthrough Series programs can yield outcomes comparable to traditional collaboratives at a significantly reduced cost.
  • Success in VBTS requires strong senior leadership engagement, active team participation, and adequate information technology support.