Learning Collaborative for FHTs and CHCs

Between May 2008 and June 2010, QIIP will be organizing three Learning Collaboratives for Family Health Teams, Community Health Centres and shared-care model practices in Ontario. The first Collaborative began on May 26th 2008. The second starts in November 2008 and the third will be in March 2009. Each runs for 14-15 months and addresses the same three topics:

  • improving care for individuals with diabetes
  • improving screening for colorectal cancer, and
  • improving access and office efficiency
For more insight into the effectiveness of the collaboratives, read the following feature article published in the April 17th, 2009 OHPE bulletin.

Charter

The Charter outlines the goals of the Learning Collaborative, the targets, and the expectations of participants. The measures to be used can be viewed here.

Quality Improvement Teams

Each participating FHT will establish a Quality Improvement (lead) Team. This team takes part in the Collaborative and oversees the implementation of improvements and innovations within the FHT. Quality Improvement Teams (QITs) consist of a physician, an administrator or business manager, a nurse or nurse practitioner, another health professional, and an administrative staff member.

Spread

One of the priorities for a QIT is to help spread strategies and concepts developed in the learning sessions to the rest of the FHT (including team members who were unable to attend the learning session). Part of the work on the Collaborative is to look at how best this can be achieved.

Monthly Reporting

All participating teams work on Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles in between learning sessions. They report their progress as well as their targets and defined measures with their PDSAs on a monthly basis for the Collaborative. A virtual office helps with this, and all Collaboratives have a charter that outlines their goals and methods.

Facilitators

QIIP has hired facilitators to assist practices with their improvement work.

Partnership with CHCs

We are pleased to be able to include a number of Community Health Centres in the first learning collaborative, and look forward to CHCs joining future QIIP learning collaboratives. The links between CHCs and FHTs are important and the experience in different models will enrich the learning that takes place.