Comparative data – improving outcomes
The idea is to compare your area with another better performing area that matches your population and then work out why they perform better that your area does. Unfortunately comparison sites deal only in statistics; they do not attempt to explain the variations between areas.
Interactive NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare
This interactive atlas allows you to see the variation in healthcare by PCT, SHA or local authority across a range of diseases and conditions.
Other comparative benchmark data in which you may also be interested include:
East Midlands Quality Observatory
This site provides comparative data on CQIN and QIPP indicators for Trusts within the region as well as with peers around the country. You will need to register to access the data.
Dr Foster Health
This site provides comparative information on health and social care, including hospitals, consultants and patient experience.
NHS Information Centre
Provides general statistical data for the NHS including comparative provider information across a range of comparators using HES and PROMS data.
Measuring Impact in Health Improvement
Measuring impact in health improvement : an accessible guide for health practitioners
This report from the King’s Fund provides guidance on the process of designing, implementing and disseminating an impact assessment of a project or initiative, and contains information on the range of tools and help that is available.
See also A Guide to Service Improvement : Measurement, Analysis, Techniques and Solutions - Tools and techniques for the delivery of modern health care from NHS Scotland.
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement have a range of tools available with which you can measure impact and improvement.
eQIPP website
NHS Improvement’s website dedicated to QIPP. Featured this month: Heart
Read February’s Heart Improvement bulletin.
Invitation to a 60 minute e-seminar - 'End of Life in Heart Failure: A framework for implementation'
2010 Annual Report of the National Heart Failure Audit
Pathways for heart failure care: Making Improvements in heart failure services: Final reports from the national pilot sites (2008/10)
National roll-out of Primary PCI for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Quality and Productivity Cochrane Topics/Case Studies
NHS Evidence has published some case studies of innovative practices so that organisations can learn from one another. Also the Cochrane Topics section has some ‘implications for practice’ to help inform local practices. Recent additions include:
Low risk upper gastrointestinal bleeding: avoiding patient admissions
Microfibre mops
Surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults
Mechanical bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery
Antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants for hypertension
This month’s tool: Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
This is a systematic, proactive method for evaluating a process or product to identify where and how it might fail and to assess the relative impact of different failures, in order to identify the parts of the process that are most in need of change.
See the IHI’s FMEA tool. You may find these links useful:
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Scoring System
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis: Computerized Physician Order Entry
Improvement Report: Using FMEA to Improve Medication Dispensing
Also see the FMEA Information Centre for more information about this tool.
This bulletin is brought to you by Library and Knowledge Services. It aims to keep you up-to-date with clinical governance issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.