Finding the Yes Through a Thousand Points of No:: Quality Improvement in an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives are integral to improving health care delivery in academic medical centers (AMCs), and evidence-based QI is the gold standard for the provision of safe and compassionate health care. Despite this, there is a lag in translating evidence into practice. This article addresses the reasons why QI is challenging to implement in AMCs and provides strategies to overcome the barriers. QI is possible, and it is essential to focus the provider's energies on implementing positive change in AMCs. Quality improvement (QI) initiatives are integral to improving health care delivery in academic medical centers (AMCs), and evidence-based QI is the gold standard for the provision of safe and compassionate health care. Despite this, there is a lag in translating evidence into practice. This article addresses the reasons why QI is challenging to implement in AMCs and provides strategies to overcome the barriers. QI is possible, and it is essential to focus the provider's energies on implementing positive change in AMCs. Lesley Coots, DNP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CCRN, is a Nurse Practitioner at the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, VCU Health, in Richmond, Virginia. She can be reached at [email protected] . Jeanette Amery, DNP, AGACNP-BC, is a Nurse Practitioner at the Division of Transplant Surgery, VCU Health. Christine Schaeffer, DNP, ACCNS-AG, CEN, TCRN, is a Nurse Clinician at the Adult Emergency Department and Clinical Decision Unit, VCU Health, Pamela Parsons, PhD, GNP-BC, FNAP, is a Clinical Associate Professor, and Associate Dean for Practice and Community Engagement, and Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey Distinguished Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in Richmond, and Shelly Smith, DNP, ANP-BC, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the DNP Program at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in Richmond.