An evaluation of a frontline led quality improvement initiative: Barriers and facilitators to its success as part of a new quality management framework

Purpose: The Edmonton Zone, one of five Zones in Alberta Health Services (the health system in the province of Alberta, Canada), established a quality management framework (QMF) as a means to improve the delivery of high quality health care in the spring of 2014. The purpose of this research study was to understand the factors that facilitated or hindered the implementation of a quality improvement (QI) initiative for hand hygiene led by a newly formed frontline unit quality council (UQC), a part of the QMF, based out of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in the Edmonton Zone. This research will provide an understanding of the newly established QMF in the Edmonton Zone and the factors needed to foster the ongoing development of frontline UQC that do improvement work as part of their daily routine. Design/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative case study research design data were collected using semi-structured open-ended interviews with six key stakeholders (one registered nurse, one physician, one patient case manager, medical director for QI, clinical QI consultant and director of clinical QI) involved in UQC at the PICU. Findings: Individual, unit and organizational level factors were identified as influencing the function of the UQC. Leadership and work culture were the key facilitating factors to success and lack of QI training and personnel/dedicated time were perceived barriers to completing the QI initiative. Originality/value: The findings from this research illustrate that frontline UQC are able to impact positive sustained change early in their establishment as part of a larger QMF. It is important, however, for the system to foster ongoing development of capacity and capability of these frontline UQC to ensure sustained success of the larger systems change.