Services

ImpactBC supports patients, providers, and policy makers who are working towards health care improvement. We work with our partners in the following ways:

Improvement consulting and planning

Needs assessment

Whether a partner has a clear sense of what needs to be improved, or is struggling to begin, our team can help define the project and determine the best way forward. Among the tools used are:

• Patient Journey Mapping: Using scenarios based on a typical patient experience, patients and providers work together to create and analyze a visual representation of a patient’s journey.
• Process Mapping: Creating visual representation of a process, from the provider’s perspective, to help identify inefficiencies.
• Innovation techniques: Bringing together stakeholders to brainstorm ideas for change and try out new ways of thinking about the challenge at hand. Breaking out of old thought patterns can help generate the best solutions.

Sharing QI expertise and best practices

ImpactBC uses a Model for Improvement that asks questions, tests ideas and measures variables to ensure that changes result in improvement. Our advisors can lead or coach through this process and bring in various tools and resources to help.

Determining the improvement approach that will work best

Improvement comes in many forms. Depending on many factors, such as the resources available and time frame, we can help define the scope of your project and the process for moving forward. This could range from a very small, short project geared towards immediate change, or a larger-scale initiative like a Structured Learning Collaborative.

Improvement Support

Our expertise equips us to help in a nimble, responsive manner no matter what the scope or focus of health care improvement. And throughout our work with partners, we endeavor to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence, equipping them to become improvement ambassadors and leaders themselves. This support includes:

Building improvement teams. A Quality Improvement Advisor can assist with identifying the right mix of participants and helping with the recruiting, training, and support of your group.

Coaching and mediating. Advice and support, consultation on best practices, and personalized coaching are available to keep the project moving ahead, even when speedbumps or conflicts arise.

Change management. Building the will for change in your organization can be challenging and time consuming. Advisors bring experience and techniques to coach a variety of stakeholders through the improvement process.

Facilitation. Bringing in an experienced Quality Improvement advisor to organize and lead sessions will allow participants to focus on the change process while an objective facilitator keeps you moving ahead efficiently.

Measurement and analysis. The Model for Improvement uses measurement to drive continual improvement. Advisors can help identify the most useful data to collect, and coach through the collection, presentation, and analysis phases. 

Tools. A variety of charters, templates, change packages, case studies, and other resources are available – we believe in sharing and adapting good practices.

Online communities. Dedicated online communities are available for specific projects, enabling improvers to create an online profile and discuss questions, learnings, challenges – or any other aspect of improvement – with peers.­

Conference calls and topic-specific webinars. ImpactBC can host and facilitate interactive phone or web-based sessions, including any skill development opportunities sessions that might be necessary. These sessions may be quite focused to the project at hand, or educate on topics like health literacy, learning models, or communications skills with expert presenters.

Patient Engagement

• Patient Voices Network (PVN). Led by ImpactBC in collaboration with Patients as Partners, Ministry of Health, the PVN has over 1000 members and has matched over 500 BC patients with opportunities to make their voice heard in the process of system transformation.

• Engagement expertise. Our experience leading the Patient Voices Network has given us a solid foundation in public engagement best practices. Whether you recruit participants from the PVN or through your own networks, our advisors can coach you through the invitation, screening and support processes of effective stakeholder engagement. 

Skill-Building and Networking

Sharing successes, stories, and best practices is key to our role as a “cross-pollinator” of health care improvement in the province. Connect and learn with other improvers through the opportunities below:

Supporting Innovation and Improvement Learning Series. This dynamic learning collaborative supports innovation and improvement in BC’s health care system. Learnings and best practices are shared amongst decision-makers, providers, and front-line staff. Change packages are developed for important issues like access, redesigning roles, team building, process mapping, engaging leadership and patients as partners.

Journal Club. Improvers from throughout BC join together to discuss a journal article each month through a teleconference, sparking discussion on emerging topics in health care improvement.

Virtual learning. Whether you’re new to quality improvement, or wish to introduce someone else to the basic principles, consider our easy and time-effective online course Quality Improvement Basics.  There are also many learning opportunities available to members of the PVN Activated Network, allowing patient partners to hone their skills in areas including communications skills, health literacy, and much more.

Professional Development Opportunities. The Art and Science of Innovation and Improvement (ASII) consists of four workshops over 11 months, with world-class faculty guiding teams through improvement projects that address local needs.

Newsletters. Patient Voices Network and ImpactBC newsletters share stories about the patient voice in improvement in BC, reaching thousands of patients, providers, and decision-makers. Sign up for a newsletter.

If you have questions about a health care improvement project but are not sure where to start, or what kind of support you may need, contact info [at] impactbc [dot] ca. With expertise in quality improvement, and a large network of partners and contacts across BC and beyond, a quality improvement advisor is often a great resource in providing direction for your improvement efforts.