Apesar da considerável queda no índice de necrópsias - dado pelo número de necrópsias sobre o número total de mortes - por diferentes motivos tecnológicos, médicos e sociais, esse ainda é o principal exame para conferência de discrepâncias diagnósticas ante-mortem e post-mortem e elaboração de relatórios sobre morbidade e mortalidade e riscos aos pacientes. Nosso estudo compara e descreve diagnósticos ante-mortem e de necrópsia dos pacientes que faleceram no HC-FMRP/USP nos anos de 2010 e 2014. Foram analisadas 1216 necropsias realizadas no HC-FMRP nos anos de 2010 e 2014, sendo pareados os diagnósticos clínico e de necrópsia e classificados segundo o modelo de Goldman (1983) modificado. O índice médio de necrópsias foi de 49%. O percentual médio de discrepâncias diagnósticas maiores foi de 23,4%, com média de 15% de discrepâncias Grau 1 e de 8,3% Grau 2. A faixa etária com maior predomínio de discrepâncias foi de 80 a 100 anos. O diagnóstico de maior prevalência foi a pneumonia, presente em 40% de todos os casos avaliados, dentre os quais 25% apresentaram discrepâncias maiores. Nossos resultados são comparáveis aos registrados na maioria dos estudos mais recentes, em que a porcentagem de discrepâncias maiores em outros hospitais brasileiros se mantém em torno dos 32- 35%, e abaixo dos resultados de estudos internacionais, nos quais a discrepâncias maiores são em torno de 20%. / Although there is a drop on necropsies rates performed in each hospital, which is the number of necropsies by total of deaths, for a number of medical, technological and social reasons, necropsy remains as the main exam to evaluate the discrepancy of premortem and postmortem diagnoses and to estimate, morbidity and mortality and patient risks. Our study compares and describes the diagnoses of patients who died at the HC-FMRP/USP during the years of 2010 e 2014. We analyzed 1216 necropsies performed at he the HC-FMRP in 2010 and 2014, comparing agreement and disagreement between clinical diagnoses and necropsy reports, by the Goldman (1983) modified classification. The mean necropsy rate was 49%. Major discrepancies were 23.4%, with average of 15% for class 1 and 8.3% for Class 2 discrepancies. We found the most common discrepancies occurred at the ages of 80 to 100 years old. The most prevalent diagnostic was \'pneumonia\', found in 40% of all cases studied, among which 25% showed major discrepancies. Our results are compatible with the main recent studies in the field in Brazilian hospitals, in which the major discrepancies are between 32-35% and under the rates of the studies conducted abroad, in which major discrepancies were around 20%.

Apesar da considerável queda no índice de necrópsias - dado pelo número de necrópsias sobre o número total de mortes - por diferentes motivos tecnológicos, médicos e sociais, esse ainda é o principal exame para conferência de discrepâncias diagnósticas ante-mortem e post-mortem e elaboração de relatórios sobre morbidade e mortalidade e riscos aos pacientes. Nosso estudo compara e descreve diagnósticos ante-mortem e de necrópsia dos pacientes que faleceram no HC-FMRP/USP nos anos de 2010 e 2014. Foram analisadas 1216 necropsias realizadas no HC-FMRP nos anos de 2010 e 2014, sendo pareados os diagnósticos clínico e de necrópsia e classificados segundo o modelo de Goldman (1983) modificado. O índice médio de necrópsias foi de 49%. O percentual médio de discrepâncias diagnósticas maiores foi de 23,4%, com média de 15% de discrepâncias Grau 1 e de 8,3% Grau 2. A faixa etária com maior predomínio de discrepâncias foi de 80 a 100 anos. O diagnóstico de maior prevalência foi a pneumonia, presente em 40% de todos os casos avaliados, dentre os quais 25% apresentaram discrepâncias maiores. Nossos resultados são comparáveis aos registrados na maioria dos estudos mais recentes, em que a porcentagem de discrepâncias maiores em outros hospitais brasileiros se mantém em torno dos 32- 35%, e abaixo dos resultados de estudos internacionais, nos quais a discrepâncias maiores são em torno de 20%. / Although there is a drop on necropsies rates performed in each hospital, which is the number of necropsies by total of deaths, for a number of medical, technological and social reasons, necropsy remains as the main exam to evaluate the discrepancy of premortem and postmortem diagnoses and to estimate, morbidity and mortality and patient risks. Our study compares and describes the diagnoses of patients who died at the HC-FMRP/USP during the years of 2010 e 2014. We analyzed 1216 necropsies performed at he the HC-FMRP in 2010 and 2014, comparing agreement and disagreement between clinical diagnoses and necropsy reports, by the Goldman (1983) modified classification. The mean necropsy rate was 49%. Major discrepancies were 23.4%, with average of 15% for class 1 and 8.3% for Class 2 discrepancies. We found the most common discrepancies occurred at the ages of 80 to 100 years old. The most prevalent diagnostic was \'pneumonia\', found in 40% of all cases studied, among which 25% showed major discrepancies. Our results are compatible with the main recent studies in the field in Brazilian hospitals, in which the major discrepancies are between 32-35% and under the rates of the studies conducted abroad, in which major discrepancies were around 20%.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of virtual peer-to-peer (P2P) workgroups as a platform for long-term collaboration in healthcare. Virtual peer-to-peer workgroups were developed and piloted by the Michigan Value Collaborative to increase knowledge and collaboration between providers across Michigan. The workgroups were designed to address barriers to change and long-term collaboration by allowing participants to share their improvement journey and provide feedback and ideas for improvement in a highly accessible platform. The pilot workgroups focused on heart failure readmission reduction initiatives as it is a much scrutinized metric and is penalized by public and private payers. Data on the workgroups were collected using pre and post-workgroup surveys filled out by participants. The results reveal that virtual peer-to- peer workgroups are effective in increasing knowledge and collaboration in the short term, but more study is required to judge their long term effectiveness in improving care at participating providers. Virtual peer-to-peer workgroups can serve as a foundation for increasing regional collaboration in healthcare as it is a very simple platform that does not require major financial or resource commitments.

Distance-based partnerships are being increasingly used in health care and have previously been described to facilitate the training of nurses, researchers, and occupational therapists.1–6 In 2013, the Society of Hospital Medicine’s newly published guidelines for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) programs indicated that strong leadership is critically important to a program’s success. Many smaller children’s hospitals have very few dedicated pediatric hospitalists, and these hospitalists might not have formal leadership or quality improvement (QI) training, resources, or dedicated time for QI work because of their clinical responsibilities. Similarly, pediatric residency programs at smaller institutions might lack robust inpatient QI experiences for their trainees. Leaders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (Cincinnati) were approached by leaders at Niswonger Children’s Hospital (Niswonger) to complete a needs assessment of Niswonger’s inpatient program. Niswonger is a 69-bed children’s hospital colocated with Johnson City Medical Center, an adult hospital. These hospitals are located in a suburban area with a large rural catchment area. Both the adult and children’s hospitals are part of a larger health system, Mountain States Health Alliance. Niswonger is affiliated with East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Department of Pediatrics, which provided the majority of physician staffing. The needs assessment, completed in 2012, consisted of several site visits, observation of inpatient rounds, interviews with Niswonger faculty and staff, evaluation of available historical data, and collection of new data. Two main gaps in clinical care and training at Niswonger were identified. The first was the need for a dedicated hospitalist program with providers who did not have competing clinical responsibilities. The general pediatric inpatient unit was historically staffed by several ETSU faculty members, all of whom had primary responsibilities in other areas such as intensive care, outpatient primary care, and infectious disease and none of whom were dedicated pediatric hospitalists. These physicians would typically conduct inpatient teaching rounds in the morning and then resume other clinical responsibilities. The second was the need for QI training for the 19 residents in the ETSU pediatric residency program, an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirement.

This research examined if there is a relationship between engagement in quality improvement (QI) and health information technology (HIT) for local health departments (LHDs) controlling for workforce, finance, population, and governance structure. This was a cross-sectional study that analyzed data obtained from the Core questions and Module 1 in the NACCHO 2010 Profile of LHDs. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Findings suggest that LHD engagement in QI has a relationship with utilization of HIT including electronic health records, practice management systems, and electronic syndromic surveillance systems. This study provides baseline information about the HIT use of LHDs. LHDs and their system partners (hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and primary care providers) that utilize HIT as part of their QI decision making may have an easier time of using data to support evidence-based decision making and implementing the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 in order to achieve population health for all.

Early mobility quality improvement (QI) projects are leading the charge to shift the prevailing culture in acute care from a culture of immobility to a culture of mobility. Low mobility and hospital acquired functional decline is a persistent problem, especially for older adults, often leading to increased post acute care costs, increased risk of hospital readmission and increased mortality. Transition of care programs designed to improve care transitions and prevent hospital readmission exist but fail to include rehabilitation professionals or to adequately consider patient functional status during hospitalization. The goal of this research was to implement and evaluate an early mobility quality improvement (QI) project that added a physical therapist and mobility technician to an existing transition of care program (Project BOOST) to increase adult patients mobility and level of physical activity during hospitalization, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The project was implemented from August 2, 2016 to February 4, 2017. A physical therapist rounded with one of two Project BOOST teams to promote increased patient mobility performed with a mobility technician daily. The physical therapist also recommended rehabilitation consultations (physical and occupational therapy) for appropriate patients. The AM-PAC “6 Clicks” Basic Mobility Short Form was used to set mobility tier levels for intervention group patients. Quantitative evaluation used observed hospital length of stay, 30 day same hospital all-cause readmission, and change in AM-PAC score from admission to discharge as outcome measures. Results showed that observed hospital length of stay decreased 0.9 days in the intervention group and 30 day same hospital all-cause readmission decreased 4.8%. Bivariate analysis of patient observed hospital length of stay was statistically significant for intervention group patients (p=0.07) but failed to reach statistical significance for same hospital readmission in intervention group patients (p=0.18). Qualitative evaluation used a phenomenological lens to explore the context of the early mobility quality improvement project and shared experience of patients and staff members exposed to more mobility and higher levels of activity during hospitalization. Twelve participants were interviewed during implementation of the project including four patients and eight staff members (physicians, nurses and a mobility technician). One overarching theme and four supporting themes were found from the data. The essential meaning was that mobility bridged a gap in care. Staff understood the benefits of early mobility for patients. Patients expressed how important mobility was for their discharge and quality of life. Patients with greater functional independence and higher mobility level reduced nursing burden of care. When patients were consistently presented with opportunities to be mobile and active during acute illness, they expected mobility to be a part of their daily care plan. This comprehensive evaluation of an early mobility quality improvement project found the intervention bridged a gap in care for patients. Adding a physical therapist to the Project BOOST team and promoting patient mobility during hospitalization resulted in improved patient outcomes. Early mobility quality improvement projects have the potential to transform clinical practice and improve quality of care.

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010) has resulted in efforts to make healthcare more affordable and effective. One strategy for making healthcare more affordable and effective is the integration of behavioral health and primary care. In today’s healthcare system, it is estimated that approximately one in three patients seen in a primary care setting meet the criteria for a mental health disorder and another third – while not meeting those criteria – are experiencing psychological symptoms that impair their functioning (Kessler, 2005). Despite the evidence supporting behavioral health services in a primary care setting, treatments tend to be diagnosis specific (Archer et al., 2012; Lemmens, Molema, Versnel, Baan, & deBruin, 2015) and as such do not capture patients’ varied presentations. Patient feedback offers a potential strategy to improve the quality of services provided. Patient feedback is the use of measures administered at each session to assess distress and track progress. There is a robust psychotherapy literature demonstrating the effectiveness of using routine progress monitoring in clinical practice but it has not been evaluated in an integrated care setting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of patient feedback in this setting. Preliminary results of this ongoing study revealed there was a moderate feedback effect using both the ORS (d = 0.38) and PHQ-9 (d = 0.12) as the outcome measures. Using the ORS as the outcome measure, patients in the feedback condition demonstrated faster treatment gains, which suggests that they improved faster compared to those patients in the TAU condition. Additionally, patients in the feedback condition incurred significantly more reliable change compared to TAU. However, this result was not replicated when the PHQ-9 was used to measure outcome. Overall, the results suggest that PCOMS may be a potentially useful quality improvement strategy.

Contexte : Un programme d’amélioration de la qualité des soins est implémenté depuis2011 en France dans la filière mucoviscidose en adaptant la démarche qualité collaborativedéveloppée aux USA par la Cystic Fibrosis Foundation et le Dartmouth Institute pour lescentres spécialisés américains.Objectif : Evaluer l’apport de la participation des patients et parents d’enfants malades, auxcôtés des professionnels soignants, dans les équipes qualité des CRCM formés auprogramme qualitéMéthode : Design mixte de recherche associant un volet quantitatif sur l’évolution desindicateurs de santé des patients et un volet qualitatif selon une étude réaliste à travers uneenquête par questionnaire et focus group auprès des patients, parents et professionnelsimpliqués dans le programme qualité.Résultats : Les résultats témoignent des bonnes conditions créées par le programme pourla participation des patients et parents, de l’appropriation de cette démarche par lesprofessionnels et les patients/parents, de son utilité perçue pour améliorer la qualité dessoins et de l’évolution de la représentation de la place de l’usager dans l’amélioration del’organisation et des processus jusqu’à la considérer comme une évidence et un atout.Discussion : La démarche qualité développe la pratique collaborative interdisciplinaire etavec les patients/parents. Les progrès organisationnels observés sont concomitants dudéveloppement d’une culture de la qualité. L’implication des patients/parents dans unedémarche qualité au sein du microsystème clinique constitue une évolution majeure pourl’amélioration du système de soin. / Background: A quality improvement program (QIP) has been implemented since 2011 inthe CF care network in France adapting the Learning and Leadership Collaborative programdeveloped in the US by the CF Foundation and the Dartmouth Institute for the American CFCentre network.Objective: Assess the contribution of patients and parents of children with CF engaged inthe CF center quality improvement teams, besides their care team, to improve care in theircenter.Method: Mixed design research including a quantitative study focusing on patient outcomesevolution and a qualitative study according to a realist approach using a questionnaire andfocus groups to patients, parents and professionals engaged in the QIP.Results: Participants attested of the good conditions implemented by the QIP to allowpatient and parent engagement, a consensus about the appropriation of the quality methodand tools, the usefulness of the program to improve the quality of care; in the end, patientand parent engagement in the QIP was found to be a given and an asset.Discussion: The QIP has developed collaborative practice in multidisciplinary teams andwith patients and parents. Organizational improvements were concurrent with a cultural shifttowards a culture of quality improvement. Patient and parent engagement in a QIP within theclinical microsystem is a major development for the improvement of the health care system.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem and efforts are needed to improve the care of individuals affected by the disease. A recent strategy for improving care within the healthcare system is patient engagement. Nurses and other health care clinicians can apply patient engagement into their clinical practice to improve the care they provide to their patients. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to increase the knowledge and awareness of patient engagement among clinicians who work with CKD patients. This quality improvement project used Lewin's force field analysis to analyze driving and restraining forces to help develop and implement strategies to develop an e-learning module. The project used practice-focused questions to determine if knowledge about patient engagement and the Shared End-Stage Renal Patients - Decision Making Tool could improve staff knowledge and awareness about patient engagement. A quantitative pretest, posttest approach was used to compare pretest scores to posttest scores after the e-learning module was viewed. Nine clinicians participated in the project study. Results showed that clinicians' knowledge and awareness about patient engagement increased from a mean pretest score of 5.22 to a mean posttest score of 6.22, (p = 0.08617). The sample of only 9 participants may have contributed to the lack of statistical significance after viewing the educational presentation. The e-learning module will provide positive social change as staff and students of renal programs learn about and apply the principles of patient engagement to their clinical practice.

Manufacturing firms can incur losses of up to 100% due to costs of poor quality (COPQ) in the form of internal and external product failures, rework, and scrap. The purpose of this single case study was to explore what quality improvement strategies senior manufacturing production managers used to reduce COPQ and increase profit. The participants selected were 3 production managers in 1 small-sized manufacturing company in the southeastern region of the United States with successful strategies to lower COPQ. The conceptual framework of this study was based on total quality management theory. Data collection was through face-to-face interviews and from a review of company documents. Yin's 5-step process was used to analyze the data. Three key themes emerged during data analysis: continuous improvement, quality assurance, and institutionalizing training. Manufacturing managers can use these strategies to lower COPQ and increase profits. The findings can contribute to social change by increasing individuals' sense of dignity and self-worth through the manufacturing firm leaders' ability to increase employment rates.