Pathophysiology
Clinical meaning
Quality improvement (QI) in healthcare is the systematic use of data-driven methods to improve processes, enhance patient outcomes, and increase efficiency. QI differs from research: research creates new knowledge (generalizable), while QI applies existing knowledge to improve local processes (context-specific). The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is the most widely used QI methodology: Plan (identify the problem, develop a change theory), Do (implement the change on a small scale), Study (analyze results and compare to predictions), Act (adopt, adapt, or abandon the change based on results). Key QI concepts include: process mapping (flowcharting current workflow to identify inefficiencies), root cause analysis (drilling down to underlying causes rather than treating symptoms), benchmarking (comparing performance to best-practice standards), and outcome measurement (tracking quality indicators over time). Common nursing quality indicators tracked by organizations like NDNQI include falls, hospital-acquired pressure injuries, CLABSI rates, CAUTI rates, medication errors, and patient satisfaction. Every nurse participates in QI by identifying problems, collecting data, implementing changes, and evaluating outcomes.