Regional Quality Assessment and Improvement

• Home

• A-Z Content Index

•  About Us

•  Complaints
Informe de Denuncias

•  Councils & Committees

•  EMS Education, Training & Regional Support

» Injury and Violence Prevention

• EMS Licensing & Certification

• Office Policies and Interpretive Statements

• Order EMS/Trauma Products

• Policy, Prevention & Trauma Fund

•  Publications

» Regional EMS and Trauma Information

•  Statutes (RCW) & Rules (WAC)

» Trauma Care Fund

» Trauma Designation, Registry & QI

•  EMS Links

• Directions

Register to Vote

Mission:

To continuously improve trauma care outcomes through the development of regional quality assessment and improvement programs (QAI). These programs analyze trends and patterns, utilizing data provided from the Trauma Registry and from the regional providers of trauma care services.

Objectives:

• The Department of Health will assist Level I, II and III Trauma Care Services to organize the regional quality assessment and improvement programs. Those Services have the statutory authority and responsibility to organize these programs.
  
• The Regional QAI programs will be provider-led and will work to establish an atmosphere of trust in a confidential forum where all participants in a region’s trauma care system can meet to:

1. Monitor and assess patient care outcomes
2. Identify opportunities for system improvement
3. Network and build coordination
4. Share insights and challenges

• The Regional QAI Programs are encouraged to use Quality Management Principles which will:

1. Focus on the process to improve outcomes, not the outcomes themselves,
2. Allow for some variation in care delivery,
3. Not focus on the "bad apple",
4. Identify specific improvement projects, and
5. View errors as opportunities for improvement.

• The scope of the Regional QAI Programs include:

1. Process and procedures for the ongoing assessment of the system; trauma care, patient outcome (adult & pediatric), unexpected deaths, and provider compliance with state statutes and administrative code.
2. Maintaining the confidentiality of provider’s and facility’s patient care outcome, and the minutes, records and reports of these meetings.
3. A plan for providing feedback to the regional council, providers, facilities, and the Department of Health.

 

Administration of Washington’s Regional QAI Program:

1. QAI Committee Requirements are established by, RCW 70.168.090, and WAC 246-976-910. Required membership includes a physician from each designated facility in the region, an EMS provider, and a member of the EMS and Trauma Regional Council. Statute flexibility allows additional membership based on "individual" regional needs, and expanded membership is encouraged to make these programs as inclusive as possible. It is recommended that the members be able to recognize problems, and be in positions able to effect change.
2. Confidentiality Agreements are signed by all participants, and mechanisms are in place to protect documentation of care assessments from discoverability.
3. Plans of operation reflect statute requirements, use consistent definitions across regions, have goals and a mission statement which reflects statute, geographical locations of member trauma services, state and national standards.

Who To Contact: