scholarly journals Collaborative quality improvement in primary care; improving general practice data quality, provider experience and patient care through a Primary Health Network data-led QI program

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Alessandro Luongo ◽  
Lisa Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Network Data ◽  
Health Network ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Provider Experience

scholarly journals Undertaking general practice quality improvement to improve cancer screening - a thematic analysis of provider experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Trankle ◽  
Christine Metusela ◽  
Jennifer Reath
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Practice Staff ◽  
Health Network ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
General Practices

Abstract Background Cancer is a major cause of illness and death, and its incidence and mortality can be reduced through effective screening. In order to improve below target screening rates in one region of Australia, the local Primary Health Network supported local general practices to implement a range of quality improvement initiatives. Methods We used a qualitative approach and interviewed 18 general practice staff and five Primary Health Network staff and contractors to understand their experiences with these quality improvement initiatives. Results In a thematic analysis, we identified four key themes related to program set-up and implementation; patient and community education and promotion; engaging patients and communities in screening; and general practice enhancement. Program roles were clear and understood, and the program received strong oversight and support. Practice staff felt supported and motivated. Information Technology was a challenge for many practices often requiring tailored assistance. Education provided by practices facilitated patient empowerment but practice staff noted difficulties engaging patients in screening. Practices were enhanced though strong leadership and teamwork and practice learning activities. Conclusions The tailored evidence-based quality improvement initiatives were considered effective in supporting general practices to increase their cancer screening. Key facilitators reported by participants included use of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, enhanced data entry and audit capacity, effective recall and reminder systems and maintaining staff motivation.

scholarly journals Undertaking General Practice Quality Improvement to Improve Cancer Screening - A Thematic Analysis of Provider Experiences

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEVEN A TRANKLE ◽  
CHRISTINE METUSELA ◽  
JENNIFER REATH
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Practice Staff ◽  
Health Network ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
General Practices

Abstract Background: Cancer is a major cause of illness and death, and its incidence and mortality can be reduced through effective screening. In order to improve below target screening rates in one region of Australia, the local Primary Health Network supported local general practices to implement a range of quality improvement initiatives.Methods: We used a qualitative approach and interviewed 16 general practice staff and five Primary Health Network staff and contractors to understand their experiences with these quality improvement initiatives.Results: In a thematic analysis, we identified four key themes related to program set-up and implementation; patient and community education and promotion; engaging patients and communities in screening; and general practice enhancement. Program roles were clear and understood, and the program received strong oversight and support. Practice staff felt supported and motivated. Information Technology was a challenge for many practices often requiring tailored assistance. Education provided by practices facilitated patient empowerment but practice staff noted difficulties engaging patients in screening. Practices were enhanced though strong leadership and teamwork and practice learning activities.Conclusions: The tailored evidence-based quality improvement initiatives were considered effective in supporting general practices to increase their cancer screening. Key facilitators reported by participants included use of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, enhanced data entry and audit capacity, effective recall and reminder systems and maintaining staff motivation.

scholarly journals Structured yet simple approaches to primary care data quality improvements can indeed strike gold

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Abhijeet Ghosh ◽  
Elizabeth Halcomb ◽  
Sandra McCarthy ◽  
Christine Ashley
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Quality Improvement Strategy ◽  
Primary Care Data

General practice data provide important opportunities for both population health and within-practice initiatives to improve health. Despite its promise, a lack of accuracy affects the use of such data. The Sentinel Practices Data Sourcing (SPDS) project is a structured chronic disease surveillance and data quality improvement strategy in general practice. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate data quality improvement in 99 participating practices over 12 months. Quantitative data were obtained by measuring performance against 10 defined indicators, whereas 48 semi-structured interviews provided qualitative data. Aggregated scores demonstrated improvements in all indicators, ranging from minor to substantially significant improvements. Participants reported positively on levels of support provided, and acquisition of new knowledge and skills relating to data entry and cleansing. This evaluation provides evidence of the effectiveness of a structured approach to improve the quality of primary care data. Investing in this targeted intervention has the potential to create sustained improvements in data quality, which can drive clinical practice improvement.

scholarly journals Partnership in Practice: a multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement in primary health care

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 371-371
Author(s):  
Michael Phelan
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Audit Team

This one day seminar was arranged by the King's Fund Organisational Audit team (KFOA), to take a multidisciplinary view of quality improvement in primary care. Despite the title of the day all the speakers were general practitioners and managers, and input from other professional groups was limited to questions and comments from the audience of nearly 200.

scholarly journals Policies and strategies to retain and support the return of experienced GPs in direct patient care: the ReGROUP mixed-methods study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 1-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L Campbell ◽  
Emily Fletcher ◽  
Gary Abel ◽  
Rob Anderson ◽  
Rupatharshini Chilvers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
At Risk ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Direct Patient Care ◽  
South West ◽  
Career Break ◽  
South West England

BackgroundUK general practice faces a workforce crisis, with general practitioner (GP) shortages, organisational change, substantial pressures across the whole health-care system and an ageing population with increasingly complex health needs. GPs require lengthy training, so retaining the existing workforce is urgent and important.Objectives(1) To identify the key policies and strategies that might (i) facilitate the retention of experienced GPs in direct patient care or (ii) support the return of GPs following a career break. (2) To consider the feasibility of potentially implementing those policies and strategies.DesignThis was a comprehensive, mixed-methods study.SettingThis study took place in primary care in England.ParticipantsGeneral practitioners registered in south-west England were surveyed. Interviews were with purposively selected GPs and primary care stakeholders. A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) panel comprised GP partners and GPs working in national stakeholder organisations. Stakeholder consultations included representatives from regional and national groups.Main outcome measuresSystematic review – factors affecting GPs’ decisions to quit and to take career breaks. Survey – proportion of GPs likely to quit, to take career breaks or to reduce hours spent in patient care within 5 years of being surveyed. Interviews – themes relating to GPs’ decision-making. RAM – a set of policies and strategies to support retention, assessed as ‘appropriate’ and ‘feasible’. Predictive risk modelling – predictive model to identify practices in south-west England at risk of workforce undersupply within 5 years. Stakeholder consultation – comments and key actions regarding implementing emergent policies and strategies from the research.ResultsPast research identified four job-related ‘push’ factors associated with leaving general practice: (1) workload, (2) job dissatisfaction, (3) work-related stress and (4) work–life balance. The survey, returned by 2248 out of 3370 GPs (67%) in the south-west of England, identified a high likelihood of quitting (37%), taking a career break (36%) or reducing hours (57%) within 5 years. Interviews highlighted three drivers of leaving general practice: (1) professional identity and value of the GP role, (2) fear and risk associated with service delivery and (3) career choices. The RAM panel deemed 24 out of 54 retention policies and strategies to be ‘appropriate’, with most also considered ‘feasible’, including identification of and targeted support for practices ‘at risk’ of workforce undersupply and the provision of formal career options for GPs wishing to undertake portfolio roles. Practices at highest risk of workforce undersupply within 5 years are those that have larger patient list sizes, employ more nurses, serve more deprived and younger populations, or have poor patient experience ratings. Actions for national organisations with an interest in workforce planning were identified. These included collection of data on the current scope of GPs’ portfolio roles, and the need for formal career pathways for key primary care professionals, such as practice managers.LimitationsThe survey, qualitative research and modelling were conducted in one UK region. The research took place within a rapidly changing policy environment, providing a challenge in informing emergent policy and practice.ConclusionsThis research identifies the basis for current concerns regarding UK GP workforce capacity, drawing on experiences in south-west England. Policies and strategies identified by expert stakeholders after considering these findings are likely to be of relevance in addressing GP retention in the UK. Collaborative, multidisciplinary research partnerships should investigate the effects of rolling out some of the policies and strategies described in this report.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016033876 and UKCRN ID number 20700.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Community Health and General Practice: The Impact of Different Cultures on the Integration of Primary Care

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hal Swerissen ◽  
Jenny Macmillan ◽  
Catuscia Biuso ◽  
Linda Tilgner
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Centres ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Centres ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined the existing relationship between community health centres and General Practice Divisions in the State of Victoria, including the nature of joint working arrangements and the identification of barriers to greater collaboration. Improved integration of primary health care services has been advocated to improve consumer and population health outcomes and to reduce inappropriate use of acute and extended care services. General practitioners (GPs) and community health centres are two key providers of primary health care with potential for greater integration. The current study conducted telephone interviews with 20 community health centre CEOs and 18 Executive Officers of divisions, which were matched according to catchment boundaries. Results suggest, while some joint planning is occurring, especially on committees, working parties and projects, there is an overall low level of satisfaction with the relationship between community health centres and GPs and GP divisions. Major barriers to greater integration are the financial or business interests of GPs and misunderstanding and differences in perceived roles and ideology between GPs and community health centres. Improved communication, greater contact and referral and follow-up procedures are identified as a means of improving the relationship between GPs, GP divisions and community health centres. Community health centres and general practitioners (GPs) are key providers of primary care (Australian Community Health Association, 1990).

scholarly journals Team-based primary health care for non-communicable diseases: complexities in South India

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii22-ii34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Lall ◽  
Nora Engel ◽  
Narayanan Devadasan ◽  
Klasien Horstman ◽  
Bart Criel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Chronic Care ◽  
South India ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Team Based Care

Abstract Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Health systems, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, such as India, struggle to deliver quality chronic care. A reorganization of healthcare service delivery is needed to strengthen care for chronic conditions. In this study, we evaluated the implementation of a package of tailored interventions to reorganize care, which were identified following a detailed analysis of gaps in delivering quality NCD care at the primary care level in India. Interventions included a redesign of the workflow at primary care clinics, a redistribution of tasks, the introduction of patient information records and the involvement of community health workers in the follow-up of patients with NCDs. An experimental case study design was chosen to study the implementation of the quality improvement measures. Three public primary care facilities in rural South India were selected. Qualitative methods were used to gain an in-depth understanding of the implementation process and outcomes of implementation. Observations, field notes and semi-structured interviews with staff at these facilities (n = 15) were thematically analysed to identify contextual factors that influenced implementation. Only one of the primary health centres implemented all components of the intervention by the end of 9 months. The main barriers to implementation were hierarchical arrangements that inhibited team-based care, the amount of time required for counselling and staff transfers. Team cohesion, additional staff and staff motivation seem to have facilitated implementation. This quality improvement research highlights the importance of building relational leadership to enable team-based care at primary care clinics in India. Redesigned organization of care and task redistribution is important solutions to deliver quality chronic care. However, implementing these will require capacity building of local primary care teams.

Can clinical governance deliver quality improvement in Australian general practice and primary care? A systematic review of the evidence

2010 ◽  
Vol 193 (10) ◽  
pp. 602-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine B Phillips ◽  
Christopher M Pearce ◽  
Sally Hall ◽  
Joanne Travaglia ◽  
Simon Lusignan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Clinical Governance ◽  
Australian General Practice

scholarly journals Data quality improvement in general practice

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Brouwer
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Data Quality

scholarly journals Quality improvement of prescribing safety: a pilot study in primary care using UK electronic health records

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (686) ◽  
pp. e605-e611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen P Booth ◽  
Arlene M Gallagher ◽  
David Mullett ◽  
Lucy Carty ◽  
Shivani Padmanabhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Electronic Health Record Data ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Electronic Health

BackgroundQuality improvement (QI) is a priority for general practice, and GPs are expected to participate in and provide evidence of QI activity. There is growing interest in harnessing the potential of electronic health records (EHR) to improve patient care by supporting practices to find cases that could benefit from a medicines review.AimTo develop scalable and reproducible prescribing safety reports using patient-level EHR data.Design and settingUK general practices that contribute de-identified patient data to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).MethodA scoping phase used stakeholder consultations to identify primary care QI needs and potential indicators. QI reports containing real data were sent to 12 pilot practices that used Vision GP software and had expressed interest. The scale-up phase involved automating production and distribution of reports to all contributing practices that used both Vision and EMIS software systems. Benchmarking reports with patient-level case review lists for two prescribing safety indicators were sent to 457 practices in December 2017 following the initial scale-up (Figure 2).ResultsTwo indicators were selected from the Royal College of General Practitioners Patient Safety Toolkit following stakeholder consultations for the pilot phase involving 12 GP practices. Pilot phase interviews showed that reports were used to review individual patient care, implement wider QI actions in the practice, and for appraisal and revalidation.ConclusionElectronic health record data can be used to provide standardised, reproducible reports that can be delivered at scale with minimal resource requirements. These can be used in a national QI initiative that impacts directly on patient care.

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