Transformational quality in Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Quality Improvement Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Healthcare reform, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, necessitates improved patient care outcomes and operational efficiencies.
• Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) require hospitals to rigorously monitor quality and continuously enhance processes.
• Evolving healthcare demands optimization of patient care quality and increased operational efficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a model for redesigning hospital quality departments to meet evolving healthcare challenges.
• To demonstrate how a centralized internal consulting group can support strategic planning for quality improvement.
• To share an approach that assists organizations in maximizing cost-efficient performance improvement.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a centralized internal consulting group within a regional quality and regulatory services department.
• Utilization of a strategic planning model that weighs risk, opportunity, cost, and outcomes.
• Application of the model across 21 hospitals to improve quality-of-care outcomes and establish sustainable infrastructure.

Main Results:

• Improved quality-of-care outcomes across 21 hospitals.
• Establishment of effective assessment teams and sustainable infrastructure for quality initiatives.
• Successful integration of a strategic planning model supporting cost-efficient performance improvement.

Conclusions:

• A centralized consulting model can effectively support strategic planning for healthcare quality improvement.
• This approach enables organizations to maximize cost-efficient and effective performance improvement strategies.
• Redesigning hospital quality departments with strategic support is crucial for clinical and operational excellence.