Tips for choosing an initiative 

• Data: Data is the best driver for identifying improvement initiatives within your enrolled population. Quality improvements initiated from data and benchmarking identify gaps in services or overuse of services and potential areas for improvement specific to a practice.
  
  
• Patient feedback: Patient feedback is a valuable source of patient-centred evidence which helps identify areas to improve for increased patient satisfaction. Data may be quantitative, (e.g., PHO or PMS query data), or qualitative (e.g., data from patient feedback systems.) 
  
  
• Use quality improvement methodologies: Your initiative should be compatible with the principles of the New Zealand Triple Aim using its systems and tools. If your practice is currently running or has recently run within the last six months an internal CQI initiative, this can be used providing it is adapted to incorporate the requirements of this module.
  
  
• Use our CQI pre-assessment form: In the early planning phases, it is important to keep in mind the key requirements of the CQI project. To make sure your project fits the requirements, use our  CQI pre-assessment form.

Quality initiative examples

Some quality initiative examples include: 

• access to health care for patients with chronic diseases, e.g. asthma, diabetes, COPD, gout and skin conditions
• screening rates, e.g. smoking cessation, cervical screening and cardiovascular risk assessments)
• access to sexual health services for male adolescents
• the incident management system 
• palliative care for all patients
• patient involvement in treatment and care
• access to a patient’s preferred provider
• patient appointment wait times in general practice
• implementing the COVID-19 Vaccine programme in general practice.

There are also some examples of Whakakotahi quality improvement projects available on the Health Quality & Safety Commission's website