The state of Ohio has invested in multiple Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives to improve the delivery of care and health outcomes for pregnant women, children, and infants. The QI Science Project seeks to train a workforce of Quality Improvement Coordinator (QIC) experts in QI methodology to assist clinicians, practice sites, and health systems providing care to Medicaid clients. QICs receive training in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Breakthrough Series Model for Improvement which includes change packages, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, rapid cycle data feedback, and other strategies to guide improvement efforts.
There are currently four QICs located regionally throughout Ohio. The QICs are managed by a Statewide Quality Improvement Manager (SQIM), housed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). The QICs work in peer-to-peer relationships with health care practitioners (including physicians, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners) that are serving Medicaid consumers in practice-based QI collaboratives. To date, the QICs have recruited and worked with more than 100 hospitals and 80 practices representing 375 practitioners to implement and support the ongoing QI initiatives.
This project is funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and Ohio Department of Health.
