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Simon Patterson, PHC RIS
I came away from the 2008 AGPN Forum in Darwin with a combination of exhaustion and invigoration. Whilst some of these feelings may have been physical, the majority would be from the mental challenges that the forum provided.
One of these mind expanding events was the Master Class on Quality Improvement Techniques, facilitated by the Improvement Foundation of Australia.
The Master Class was a highly interactive and energetic session, focusing on the practical application of quality improvement tools and techniques. Early in the day talks from Dr Mohamed Dewji and Dr Dale Ford provided an excellent basis: mentioning pioneers of quality improvement; pointing out that there are a number of tools available for people to use; and, describing a Model for Improvement. This model, first published in 1992 by Langley GL, Nolan KM, Nolan TW, Norman CL & Provost LP, consists of two equally important parts:
- The ‘thinking part', consisting of three fundamental questions
- What are you trying to accomplish?
- How will we know that a change is an improvement?
- What changes can we make that will result in improvement?
- The ‘doing part'/'testing', made up of Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles.
The class focused on some of the tools available to work with the Model for Improvement. With the help of the staff of the Improvement Foundation, a ‘speed dating' session was held with each table giving an intensive overview of each tool. These tools were grouped by:
- Creativity Tools
- Problem Solving Tools
- Decision Making Tools.
Case studies, relating to primary health care, were worked through in the groups and tested our new knowledge. I was also impressed how this knowledge could be equally applied to many other areas of work and sectors.
For further information the following hyperlinks are good starting points:
<http://www.improve.org.au/>
<http://www.directedcreativity.com/>
<http://www.creatingminds.org/>
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