Implementation of standardized patient safety and quality improvement rounds in a tertiary care paediatric centre

Patient safety is increasingly becoming a major priority for healthcare institutions, and various models of these rounds exist. The Ottawa M&M Model (OM3) is a structured and standardized approach to patient safety and quality improvement rounds that has been implemented at other institutions across Canada with good success.

This quality improvement project invited divisions within the Children's Hospital in London, Ontario to participate in the implementation of the OM3 for M&M rounds. The project aligned with the Institute for Health Improvement's Model for Improvement. Baseline needs assessments and facilitator training were performed. The main outcome was implementation of a version of the OM3 for PSQI rounds, action items generated from these rounds, and systemic hospital changes.

The baseline needs assessment showed that 18 (66.7%) respondents were members of divisions with pre-existing M&M rounds. Most found their rounds at least valuable, but only two-thirds found that action items were generated following each meeting. After implementation of the OM3, 58.3% (21 of 36) of action items submitted to the CH-QCC were partially or completed actioned by the end of 2022. A post-implementation survey showed that of the 11 division representatives who responded, 7 (64%) were still participating in PSQI rounds and using the new OM3 format, which they agreed was more organized.

We were able to successfully implement a new standardized approach to Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Rounds that has led to systemic changes within the paediatrics hospital and continues to be used today.