Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a structured approach to quality that uses data to improve organizational systems, processes, service delivery, and outcomes. It is a form of process improvement in which an individual or team sets a goal for improvement, enacts a change, measures the effect of the change, and repeats this process until the goal is met.
Key Components
- Leadership Commitment and Support: Leaders must champion the CQI vision and assess their organization’s readiness and capacity for quality improvement. Leadership activities that support CQI include allocating resources and building a CQI infrastructure that honors front line staff expertise and communicates CQI efforts and priorities throughout the organization.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: In CQI, data such as key performance indicators and patient outcomes are used to guide organizational decisions and improvement efforts. Staff are key partners in gathering, reviewing, and analyzing data and may need data tools and training.
- Employee Engagement and Collaboration: Leaders can further engage staff by sharing open and transparent communication around CQI activities. Successful CQI approaches have a process for collecting and integrating staff feedback to support effective problem solving and improvement projects.
- Client Focus: All team members should learn about, collaborate with, and involve clients in CQI activities. Involvement may include gathering and integrating client feedback and prioritizing initiatives that enhance client satisfaction and outcomes.
- Structured Frameworks and Approaches: There are many well-tested CQI models, structures, and processes, including PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles, tools for change (e.g., nominal group technique, walkthroughs), Six Sigma,1 or the Lean2 methodology.
- Focus on Systemic Change: Organizations with strong CQI programs spend time reviewing processes and systems to identify and address the root causes of problems and how they impact the client experience. Even after improving a process, these teams work to reduce variability to ensure sustainable improvement on an ongoing basis.
- Sustainability: One way CQI practices become embedded into organizational culture is through ongoing training including new staff orientation to CQI and ongoing all staff training and engagement in the development, management, and implementation of improvement projects.
- Innovation and Adaptability: Sometimes an idea for the best way to improve a process may come from an unexpected source or be enabled by a new technological advancement. Being open to creative CQI solutions can help organizations evolve and adapt to new challenges.
Importance to Implementing an Effective Program or Practice
CQI ensures that effective programs and practices are integrated, maintained, and continuously improved within an organization. By focusing on systematic processes, data-driven decisions, collaboration, and ongoing evaluation, CQI enables organizations to ensure programs and practices are implemented with fidelity, embedded into daily operations, and used to enhance service quality and long-term success.
Key Resources
NIATx Workbook: An Introduction to the NIATx Model of Process Improvement
The NIATx Workbook explains the key components of the NIATx model in a user-friendly format. With case studies and promising practices, the workbook brings together…
Quality Improvement Strategy Pt 1: Tools to Make and Measure Improvement
The Quality Improvement Strategy Implementation guide is an evidence-based CQI 101 guide including approaches, tools, and stories from the field.
NIATx: Easy and Powerful Process Improvement for Behavioral Health
NIATx is a process improvement model. This website provides a description, tools, resources, and examples of the NIATx model in practice.