A Quality Improvement (QI) Collaborative is a structured, team-based learning approach that helps health care organizations to share, test, and implement strategies to improve patient care.

By applying QI science, these collaboratives help translate evidence into practice in as few as 3–5 years, compared to the traditional 15-year average, resulting in better outcomes for patients faster.

No prior QI experience is needed. Teams receive guidance and support throughout the process, making participation accessible to all health care settings where children receive emergency care, whether EMS agencies, critical access hospitals, community EDs, Tribal hospitals, or academic medical centers.

Beyond improving local systems of care, QI Collaboratives advance the broader mission of the EMSC Program by strengthening Pediatric Readiness and improving emergency care nationwide.

Following the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) model, QI Collaboratives focus on implementing and testing evidence-based strategies, not just learning about them. The goal is to optimize existing resources and achieve measurable, sustainable improvements in emergency care delivery.

How a QI Collaborative Works:

• Select a Focus Area: Identify a high-priority topic for improvement
• Form a Team: Multidisciplinary teams register and define goals
• Assess Systems: Complete environmental scans and/or gap analyses
• Engage and Learn: Join learning sessions, fireside chats, and office hours, where resources are shared and exchanged
• Test Improvements: Use “Plan, Do, Study, Act” (PDSA) cycles to test and refine changes
• Share and Sustain: Exchange results and develop lasting tools, publications, or communities of practice.

• Expert Support: Personalized coaching helps teams design, test, and implement projects that drive real-world improvements.
• Centralized Resources: Access evidence-informed best practices, project management tools, IT and data support, and QI training to sustain improvements.
• Collaborative Learning: Share successes and challenges in learning sessions, benefiting from collective expertise while focusing on local improvement.
• Diverse Perspectives: Teams engage with a range of emergency care settings, learning and adopting best practices from peers.
• Continuing Education: Most QI Collaboratives offer continuing education or maintenance of certification (MOC) credits.
• Lasting Impact: Collaborative outcomes include implementation toolkits, summative papers, and communities of practice, ensuring lessons continue to improve care beyond the project.