The Quality Improvement Programme (QI Programme) is launching 1 July 2024.
This is a significant shift in our approach to funding and reporting quality-related activity. The programme will be rolled out over three years, with year one focusing on building Quality Improvement capability in general practice.
Quality Improvement or QI is planned and proactive, involving a systematic and coordinated approach to solving a problem using specific methods and tools with the aim of bringing about a measurable improvement. At a broad level, QI considers the population and their different needs including inequities, the quality, safety and experience of care for the individual and the value for system resources in which health care is being delivered.
On 1 July we are moving to building capability in quality improvement methodology through the quality improvement (QI) programme, which will ultimately lead to improved health outcomes for patients.
At its core, QI looks at systems and processes through a cycle of improvement, which includes problem identification, planning and testing change ideas, data collection and analysis, and evaluation.
Practices will complete a minimum of two focus areas: one compulsory clinical indicator related to immunisation and choose one of five clinical indicators relating to CVD, diabetes or respiratory.
Practices will receive an allocation of funding based on their registered patient numbers (ESUs). This is set at $10.64/ESU (GST exclusive) for the first year of the three-year programme. Our contract with Te Whatu Ora is on a yearly basis and, without knowing future changes to PHO funding, we cannot make funding decisions beyond this.
To support practice cashflow, the QI programme payment will be made monthly on the 20th of the month, with an adjustment each quarter based on the ESU total from the last full month of the previous quarter. This is the same quarterly adjustment made for Healthcare Home. Other payments such as Capacity and Coverage or Healthcare Home funding remains unchanged.
Importantly, practices will still have access to the Quality Plan reports, poster and data. The Quality Plan continues to support important public health imperatives. The reason for the change to a new QI focus was that the Quality Plan was not working universally.
Please note: In July you will receive two ‘quality’ payments - the first of the monthly QI programme payments will commence on 20 July and the last quality plan payment (current system) will be on 31 July.
Power BI is the platform for clinical dashboards and network performance. Currently in development is a QI dashboard making information for each clinical indicator visible on one page. Pinnacle currently funds two licences per practice, which will increase to three licences. The additional licence is specifically indicated for quality improvement activities and can be applied for now. Practice managers will manage the allocation of their licences and will be the contact point with Sam Yean, practice support administrator, who manages licence access for Pinnacle.
If you have any pātai/questions, please contact the Pinnacle Project team.
From 1 July 2024, Pinnacle is changing the focus of the quality plan to support capacity and capability building in general practice. There will also be a change to how quality plan funds are allocated. This funding is not attached to targets, and will enable you to build capacity.
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