Leadership Structured Approach To Continuous Quality Improvement At Multiple Levels

Leadership structure and design supports the approach to continuous quality improvement at multiple levels in the organization. The tiers of leadership structure include the governing board, executive leadership, departmental leadership, and front line leadership (both formal and informal). The governing board has the overall responsibility and accountability for quality of care provided in a health care organization. Executive leaders have the responsibility within their role to provide strategies and vision for quality improvement, and departmental leaders the responsibility to operationalize the tactics required. Front line leaders have the responsibility for the day-to-day tasks that ensure the safe, effective, and efficient care and services. Leaders also ensure clear understanding of these roles and responsibilities, create and enforce an accountability structure, develop communication expectations, and integrate policies and guiding documents. Leaders identify the structured methodology for quality improvement, ensure appropriate resources are available for the related activities (human and technological), and establish reporting routines. Leaders develop avenues of support for key collaboratives that have the responsibility to drive quality initiatives, and support project leads that have roles in design of specific processes. Establishing a culture of continuous improvement requires all leaders to

Within this culture it is as important to role model ownership for quality improvement as it is to ensure the learning itself. Leaders who have an understanding of a culture that supports learning approaches understand the importance of accurate and timely data and information, open and timely communications across all levels of the organization, and the inclusion of multiple disciplines to ensure the culture of quality thrives under the changing