Driving quality improvements of radiation treatment services through a centralized performance management approach.

Abstract

188 Background: Radiation treatment services are delivered in 16 facilities spread across the province of Ontario, centralized through Cancer Care Ontario’s oversight of quality of care, equipment, hospital funding, clinical and technical guidelines. Methods: In order to ensure high quality care, Cancer Care Ontario employs a systematic approach performance management, whereby facilities are held accountable to achieving provincial quality targets. For radiation treatment, the quality improvement priorities that have leveraged this approach over the last 10 years have included: reduction of wait times to consultation; reduction of wait times to start of treatment; adoption of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) where appropriate; and implementation of peer review for treatment plans. In each case, key performance indicators were developed for use in provincial scorecards designed to focus the attention of local clinical and administrative leadership. Regular performance discussions with senior leaders took place throughout implementation, and targeted intervention occurred with facilities that were lagging behind their peers. Results: See table. Conclusions: The ability to centrally monitor the implementation of quality improvement initiatives across a large jurisdiction, and to hold the leadership of each facility accountable to provincial targets through regular feedback and escalation, has been a key component of highly successful change management initiatives in radiation treatment in Ontario. [Table: see text]