January: QI Activity

Step 1: Identify your QI Measures

Start by considering which of the relevant QI measures you will work towards in support of this topic. Measures you could choose from include:

• Proportion of patients with a weight classification
• Proportion of patients with the necessary risk factors assessed to enable CVD
  assessment

Accreditation Requirements

The RACGP Standards for general practices 5th edition outlines specific criteria related to the capture of patient information, including BMI (Body Mass Index). These criteria are relevant to the accreditation of general practices, as they form part of the broader focus on preventive health and chronic disease management.

• Comprehensive Patient Records (Criterion C6.1):
  - General practices are required to maintain comprehensive and accurate patient health records. This includes regularly updating key health indicators such as smoking status, BMI, and alcohol consumption (ideally, every 12 months).
  - These indicators are critical for preventive health care, allowing practitioners to identify risk factors and provide appropriate interventions.
• Health Assessments and Chronic Disease Management:
  - The Standards emphasise the importance of preventive health activities, including regular health assessments where smoking status, BMI, and alcohol consumption are recorded and reviewed.
  - These assessments are essential for managing chronic diseases, providing a basis for patient education and care planning
• Patient Health Summaries:
  - Practices are expected to maintain up-to-date patient health summaries that include smoking status, BMI, and alcohol consumption as part of the essential patient information.
  - The presence of these details in patient summaries is crucial for the practice's accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to comprehensive care.
• Quality Improvement and Preventive Health:
  - The Standards also stress continuous quality improvement (CQI) in preventive health measures. Regularly capturing and reviewing smoking status, BMI, and alcohol consumption is part of this ongoing improvement process.
  - Accreditation bodies may review how practices use this data to engage in CQI activities, such as targeted health campaigns or interventions.

Step 2: Undertake your QI activity

We've prepared a simple worksheet that can help you work through activity you will need undertake to meet the Improvement Measure you have selected.

1. Identify your plan, using the Model for Improvement:

• What are you trying to accomplish? eg. increase the proportion of regular (active) patients aged 15 years and over with a missing or incomplete BMI record in the last 12 months.
• How will we know that change is an improvement? Set a specific measure or SMART goal, eg. increase the proportion of regular (active) patients aged 15 years and over with a BMI record documented in the last 12 months by 15% by the end of the PIP quarter.
• What changes can you make that will result in improvement? Come up with your own ideas or consider ours below.

2. Some possible ideas you could choose to do:

• Conduct a team meeting to ensure all relevant team members are aware of the PIP QI focus for the quarter and highlight the importance of recording BMI for patients aged 15 years and over.
• Complete a CAT4 search for eligible patients aged 15 years and over with a missing or incomplete BMI record in the last 12 months. Make note of the results and complete a data cleanse/accreditation activity. Clinicians will be asked to update BMI records for every eligible patient during consultations.
• Regularly use Pen CS CAT4 and/or Topbar to track and report the percentage of eligible patients in this cohort. Save and document these reports throughout the PIP quarter (ensure all staff are aware that a PDSA is to be completed and filed each quarter should your practice be audited).
• Display health promotion materials on BMI, healthy weight, and lifestyle in the clinic waiting room.
• Utilise Topbar MBS app. Consider creating a specific CAT Prompt Topbar notification for this patient cohort.
• Use PHN Exchange to track BMI trends over time and assess ongoing improvement.

3. Document your actions

• Use our PDSA Worksheet to document your activity. It also walks you through how to complete a CAT4 search and use PHN Exchange to track cervical screening trends.

4. Resources to help you

• How to create a specific CAT Prompt that is cervical screening specific.
  
• CQI toolkit - recalls CAT4 via HotDoc Broadcast
• How to complete a CAT4 search for eligible patients
• PHN services and programs supporting preventative health and healthy lifestyles.
  

Further resources

Resources for GPs and practice nurses

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