CONCLUSION

The Quality Improvement Forum was successfully initiated and

has implemented a number of QIPs. An audit of each QIP will be

performed to determine if the initiative is sustainable in the long

term.

Planning – During the initial meetings terms of references were

agreed. An idea-generating session determined QIPs for the year.

A detailed plan of each QIP developed including the description

and scope of the change project, objectives, sequence of actions

and who was responsible, timeframe, performance measures and

resource requirements.

Examples include:

• Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire

• Rehabilitation Folder

• Stroke Information Sessions

Implementation – A clear implementation plan for all staff,

including commencement dates and staff training was developed.

• Patient satisfaction questionnaire – an aphasia friendly

questionnaire was devised and piloted with specific patients. From

patient feedback sessions the necessary changes were

implemented and now the MDT are able to monitor patients

perception of the service they have experienced.

• Rehabilitation Folder – all patients on the rehabilitation unit now

benefit from individual rehabilitation folders which include goal

plans, exercise programmes and condition specific leaflets.

• Stroke Information Sessions – the MDT now host regular

information sessions to ensure patients and family members have

access to relevant, specific information on stroke and rehabilitation.

Mainstreaming – QIPs have now been integrated into established

work practices within the unit. The rehabilitation team continue to

meet on a regular basis to ensure each QIP is implemented as

initially outlined.

REFERENCES

1. HSE 2008. Improving Our Services: A Users’ Guide to Managing Change in the Health Service Executive

Email: Sinead Coleman (Chair) scoleman@stjames.ie

INTRODUCTION

Improving quality of care in a post acute elderly rehabilitation unit

is an important service goal. The multidisciplinary rehabilitation

team (MDT) of a large Dublin teaching hospital have an ongoing

commitment to improving service delivery. Previous quality

improvement projects (QIPs) developed among individual

disciplines were invariably difficult to implement and sustain.

Quality improvement projects which combine multidisciplinary

expertise increases communication, improves motivation,

encourages responsibility, facilitates commitment among staff and

ultimately delivers high quality services1. The aim of this change

project was to introduce a forum for healthcare professionals to

engage in quality improvement initiatives within a rehabilitation

unit.

A Change Project to Introduce a Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Forum Within a

Rehabilitation UnitSt. James’s Hospital MedEl Rehabilitation Quality Committee

METHODOLOGY

The HSE Change Model was selected to facilitate the introduction

of the Quality Improvement Forum. The Model comprises initiation,

planning, implementation and mainstreaming phases. Results were

based on tasks achieved under each phase of the Model.

HSE Change Model

RESULTS

Initiation – the Quality Improvement Forum was established in

November 2012. All stakeholders within the rehabilitation unit were

approached to partake in the forum. There is currently involvement

from speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational

therapy, clinical nutrition, medical social work, nursing, the medical

team and the service user.