Quality Improvement Project
Program Overview
The UNC Pediatric Residency Quality Improvement (QI) Program is designed to help prepare pediatricians to address quality of care issues during their training and career. The program is aligned with the Pediatric Residency Review Committee requirement that all residents learn QI methods and participate in a QI project during their residency.
The QI Program assures that all residents:
Participate in at least one QI project during their residency,
Have access to a knowledgeable QI faculty advisor to assist them with their project,
Understand the important role of physician leadership in QI efforts, and
Understand and can perform the basic steps of a QI project:
Select area for improvement
Write project aim with measurable goals
Test and implement system changes using plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles
Understand how to use seven basic quality tools
Measure process and outcome changes using the basic quality tools
QI Program Requirements
Meet with selected QI faculty advisor at least twice (once at the beginning to discuss the project and develop a plan and once during the closeout)
Complete all required readings and IHI modules
Select QI project and submit application for IRB approval
Conduct QI project
Submit final report to selected QI faculty advisor and the QI program manager
Recommended Timeline for QI Project Requirements
January – June of PL-2 Year
Select a project to join or create your own project
Contact a faculty member to serve as advisor
Submit application for IRB approval
Most QI projects are exempt from IRB approval, but it is still necessary to complete this IRB form. Once the application is submitted, it takes less than 10 business days for approval. Your QI faculty advisor can provide you with examples of IRB.
Required readings
July – December of PL-3 Year
Conduct QI project
January – February of PL-3 Year
Complete final report and submit to faculty advisor and Kelly Lear (klear@med.unc.edu)
February – April of PL-3 Year
Prepare Poster for Evening of Scholarship (optional)
May of PL-3 Year
Present QI Project at Evening of Scholarship (optional)
Required Readings and Resources
Department of Pediatrics Quality and Safety Program
Register for free and complete the following courses:
QI 102: Model for Improvement – Your Engine for Change: Lessons 1, 2, and 3
QI 103: Measuring for Improvement: Lesson 2
Batalden P, Davidoff F. Teaching quality improvement: the devil is in the details. JAMA. 2007 Sep 5;298(9):1059-61.
Reinertsen JL. Physicians as leaders in the improvement of health care systems. Ann Intern Med. 1998 May 15;128(10):833-8.
Langley, G., Nolan, K., Norman, C. L., Provost, L., & Nolan, T. (1996). The Improvement Guide: A practical approach to enhancing organizational performance. New York, NY: Jossey-Bass.
Tague, N. (2005). Quality Toolbox (2nd ed.). Milwaukee: ASQ Quality Press. Read the following sections: check sheets, fishbone diagrams, flow charts, histograms, pareto charts, run charts , and scatter diagrams.
Current and Past Projects
Current Projects:
Marquita Genies, Stevie Rowe and Emily Vander Schaaf: Improving MDI Spacer Use in a General Pediatrics Clinic
Andrew Heling, Mary Currie and Melissa Cabellon: Inpatient Treatment of Community Acquired Pneumonia in Children
Jenn Stiff: Car Seat Education in the Newborn Nursery
Andrew Heling: Usage of Supplemental Prenatal Counseling Tool in Counseling Expectant Parents of Very Premature Babies
Jackie Patterson: Communication Between Pediatrics and Obstetrics Regarding Maternal Diagnosis of Chorioamnionitis
Class of 2013 Projects:
Mark Connelly and Dan Lercher: Use of the Physician Portal to Improve Asthma Care
Natalie Austin: Improving the Conversation about Attaining a Healthier Lifestyle
Ginger Locklear and Kasey Joyner: Keeping Up With Kids – Improving Anticipatory Guidance for the School Age Child
Steven Pattishall: Laptops and Electronic Resources to Improve the Pediatric Resident’s Continuity Clinic Experience
Krystle Perez: Linking the Newborn Nursery and Resident Clinic: The Key to Continuity Success?
Nick Potisek: The Use of Spirometry in Patients with Asthma in the UNC Pediatric Continuity Clinic
Kristen Rogers and Elizabeth Tucker: Improving Resident Documentation of Pediatric Obesity in Continuity Clinic
Rebekah Savage: Substance Use Screening in Adolescents
Megan Speare: Postpartum Smoking Cessation
Cara Cannon: New Lab Reporting System in the Continuity Clinic
Pinar Gumus: Is Chronic Disease a Risk Factor for the Adolescent Driver?
Christy Hanofee: Use of TeamSTEPPS to improve communication during mock code scenarios
Beth Turney and Priti Elkins-Williams: Wait 48: Reducing Readmission Rates for Late Preterm Infants
Class of 2012 Projects:
Jaya Barina: Guidance at the First Newborn Visit in Continuity Clinic
Erica Bartelt: MCHAT in Spanish
Mary Boruta: E-Scripts
R.J. Boruta: E-Scripts
Theresa Kallman: Rapid Response System
Kelly Kimple: MCHAT in Spanish
Joseph Powers: Adolescent PPE on Saturdays
Jennifer Rochette: Guidance at the First Newborn Visit in Continuity Clinic
Rhiannon Smith: Curriculum Advancement by Implementing a Critical Care Lecture Series with Simulation
Ashley Sutton: Call Backs in Clinic
Thomas Sutton: Call Backs in Clinic
Jennifer Vincent: Creating a Cocoon of Protection: Tdap Vaccination for Caregivers of Newborns at UNC Pediatric Resident Clinic
Lindsey Wilfley: Continuity in Clinic
Class of 2011 Projects:
Christy Anderson: Preventing Readmission Rates for Hyperbili by Educating Physicians and Using a Standardized Method of Checking and Assessing Bilirubin
Ryan Barbaro: Newborn Drug Screening Protocol
Justin Godown: Optimizing Efficiency in General Pediatric Clinic
Caroline Hobbs: Educational Intervention for Improving Asthma Management
Yemisi Jones: The Impact of an Otitis Media Outpatient Training Program on Resident Performance
Meg Kihlstrom: Crowd Control During PRRT
Matt Lewis: Improving the Quality of Discharge Communication with an Educational Intervention
Tim Moran: Educational Intervention for Improving Asthma Management
Lindsey Murphy: Facilitating Communication to Improve the Quality of Care in the North Carolina Children’s Hospital
Chrystal Rutledge: Using Visual Aid to Improve the PICU Transfer Process
Nicole Sammons: Facilitating Communication to Improve the Quality of Care in the North Carolina Children’s Hospital
Angie Scott: Optimizing Efficiency in General Pediatric Clinic
Zeb Spector: Enhancing Resident Education in Evidence Based Medicine
Liz Thompson: Crowd Control During PRRT
Six Valdelievre: Pain in Children’s Hospital; Which Intern Do I Page?; and Asthma Medications and Illiteracy