Quality Improvement

Improving the quality of services is a key requirement within the NHS. As a result, the RCR has added quality improvement projects to our training curricula as an alternative to audit.

Revalidation and quality improvement
Clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists need to demonstrate that they review and evaluate the quality of their work through participation in quality improvement activity.  Audit and other quality improvement activity should reflect the breadth of your professional work over each five-year revalidation period (see our full guidance on revalidation and appraisal).

So what is quality improvement?
Quality improvement is a systematic approach, which uses specific techniques, methods, measurement and strategies to improve one or more of the dimensions of quality healthcare. Quality healthcare can be defined as having six dimensions: safe; effective; patient-centred; timely; efficient; equitable.

• Safe – avoiding causing harm to patients from care intended to help them.
• Effective – providing services based on scientific knowledge and which produce a clear benefit.
• Person-centred – providing care that is responsive to and respectful of individuals’ needs and values.
• Timely – providing care at an appropriate time based on the patient’s medical, psychological and social needs.
• Efficient – avoiding wasting resources, including that of human endeavour.
• Equitable – providing care that is based on the patient’s clinical condition not influenced by factors such as their age, ethnicity, or where they live.

Applying quality improvement approaches to healthcare
The RCR has identified a number of existing quality improvement resources, which Fellows and members may wish to make use of. The RCR will also consider whether any specific tools and guidance should be developed to help Fellows and members to implement quality improvement measures into their everyday practice. Existing resources available from other organisations and sites are identified below. This section of the website will be populated with further resources as they become available.

Zero acceptance for poor patient presentation

Useful links

• The Royal College of Physicians – QI for revalidation
• The Royal College of Physicians - Learning to make a difference
• Supporting information for appraisal and revalidation: Guidance for Clinical Radiologists and Clinical Oncologists
• Quality Improvement Project Steps
• NHS Scotland Quality Improvement Hub 
• NHS Wales Improving Quality Together
• Quality 2020: A 10 Year Quality Strategy for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
• RCR CR AuditLive
• RCR CO Audit Library
• HQIP Guide to Using QI Tools to Drive Audit
• HQIP Audit Report Template
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• The Health Foundation
• RSNA Quality Improvement
• BMJ Quality
• NHS Improvement
• Public Health Performance Improvement Toolkit
• AHRQ Performance Improvement Plan & Template
• The Kings Fund
• HRSA Developing & Implementing a QI Plan
• RCR Suggested Recipe for QI Project
• RCR Suggested Recipe for QI Project in Poster Format