Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, and Jill Marsteller, PhD, MPP, are calling on physicians to be more involved and lead quality improvement efforts in their respective healthcare settings, according to an article they authored in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The authors suggest that even though quality improvement efforts exist, there is not enough data supporting the notion that quality improvement efforts are actually enhancing patient outcomes. One of the reasons for this lack of progress, they say, is inadequate physician engagement and leadership in quality improvement work.
"Physicians bring unique skills and perspective to QI, yet their involvement is rare," they wrote.
One suggestion to improve physician involvement is creating a physician management infrastructure to encourage physicians to design their own meaningful quality improvement projects, develop performance measures and monitor behaviors, implement change and measure the resulting impact. Drs. Pronovost and Marsteller also said there has to be a chain of accountability throughout the physician-led quality improvement process.
Read the article about physician engagement in infection control.
Read other coverage about infection control:
- APIC Recommends Mandatory Influenza Immunization as Condition of Healthcare Employment
- 10 Facts and Figures on Surgical Site Infections
- Environmental Contamination Possible Culprit for MRSA Transmission
The authors suggest that even though quality improvement efforts exist, there is not enough data supporting the notion that quality improvement efforts are actually enhancing patient outcomes. One of the reasons for this lack of progress, they say, is inadequate physician engagement and leadership in quality improvement work.
"Physicians bring unique skills and perspective to QI, yet their involvement is rare," they wrote.
One suggestion to improve physician involvement is creating a physician management infrastructure to encourage physicians to design their own meaningful quality improvement projects, develop performance measures and monitor behaviors, implement change and measure the resulting impact. Drs. Pronovost and Marsteller also said there has to be a chain of accountability throughout the physician-led quality improvement process.
Read the article about physician engagement in infection control.
Read other coverage about infection control:
- APIC Recommends Mandatory Influenza Immunization as Condition of Healthcare Employment
- 10 Facts and Figures on Surgical Site Infections
- Environmental Contamination Possible Culprit for MRSA Transmission