We hope you have found this guide useful. The success of your project will very much depend on how well you apply the methods we have discussed. We realise they are very prescriptive but that is because, as proven internationally over the past 25 years, they work. If ever in doubt, return to the Model for Improvement and answer the questions in order.
It is probably worth speaking with your local QI department, as they will have knowledge of other ongoing projects and can ensure they don’t clash, or that work is not duplicated. They may also know of senior members of staff with QI experience, who may be able to give you useful assistance. Just be wary that the bread and butter of many QI departments is still the undertaking audit cycles, although this is slowly changing. Simply mention you are looking to base your project around the use of the Model for Improvement.
Finally there is lots of information out there if you would like to find out more about QI. At TIPSQI we want to present methods at a level that we believe can be effectively used by the vast majority of junior doctors, however there are further layers of depth to improving healthcare, if you are interested. If this is the case we would encourage you to explore the external resources in our More QI Resources page.
Political, economic and demographic pressures mean things will likely continue to get tougher for the NHS in the years ahead. However we can make the choice to commit to continuous improvement to make the our lives as professionals, and those of our patients, easier. We have found using the methods presented here to be the best way, and hope you do too.