Principles
Board effectiveness relies on the ways in which board members translate knowledge and information into quality and safety plans with measurable goals, maintain oversight on progress toward these goals, and hold the CEO, and through her or him, the organization, responsible for these goals. The Board provides direction, ensures collaboration, aligns the quality and patient safety plan with the strategic plan, and uses the quality and safety plan to focus the board agenda.
Tools and Resources
Align Quality and Safety Plan with Organizational Strategic Plan
Timely and relevant information about current performance together with knowledge on quality of care and patient safety are important ingredients in creating strategic goals for an organization. The quality plan has to have specific measures, timelines and targets so that board members can quickly assess progress of the organization on quality and safety initiatives. The quality and safety plan can cascade throughout the organization by having measures and targets that align with the strategic plan of the organization. Embedding the quality and safety plan into the broader strategic plan will ensure that it is an integral part of a broader organizational strategic plan and agenda.
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Strategic Plan, Quality Improvement Plan and Narrative, Progress Report )
- London Health Sciences Centre (Strategy Map, Quality Improvement Plan and Narrative)
- Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (Strategy Map, Quality Improvement Plan and Narrative, Progress Report)
- Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic : (Quality Improvement Plan)
- Health Sciences North (Strategic Plan, Quality Improvement Plan)
Use the Quality and Safety Plan to Focus Board Agenda
The board can delegate authority to create a quality and safety plan to the CEO and senior team. The board must ensure mechanisms are in place for the: creation of a quality and safety plan and framework; approval of the quality and safety plan and framework by the board; execution the quality and safety plan and framework; monitoring and reporting quarterly on progress; and evaluation of the success of the quality and safety plan. The quality plan can focus beyond clinical improvement and demonstrate organization-wide commitment to fostering an environment that is conducive to improving the quality and safety of care overall.
