The improvement project successfully increased the utilization of primary care services from a baseline of 5% to 22% by the fourth month, surpassing the initial goal of 20%. At this point, the quality professional should focus on ensuring that this improvement is sustained over time. Monitoring for sustainment involves tracking the ongoing performance to confirm that the increased utilization is maintained and identifying any potential declines or issues early. Continuous monitoring helps to determine if the implemented changes have become fully integrated into routine practices and are producing the desired outcomes consistently.
* Implement another improvement cycle (A): This is unnecessary at this stage, as the goal has been met and even exceeded. Further improvement cycles should only be considered if the current gains are not sustained or if new goals are established.
* Assess patient satisfaction with providers (C): While assessing patient satisfaction is important, it is not the immediate priority after meeting the primary utilization goal. Satisfaction assessments could be part of a broader quality strategy but do not address the current need for ensuring the sustainability of improvements.
* Disband the improvement team (D): Disbanding the team could be premature, as their role in monitoring sustainment is crucial. The team may still be needed to support ongoing improvements or address any emerging issues.
References
* NAHQ Body of Knowledge: Quality Improvement Processes
* NAHQ CPHQ Exam Preparation Materials: Sustaining Improvements
* NAHQ Guide to Measuring Healthcare Outcomes
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