Module 7
Sustaining Improvement and Creating Lasting Change
Successful QI is about more than testing interventions; it's about creating the conditions for those improvements to last. Culture, leadership, stakeholder engagement, and intentional planning all play a role in sustaining change and spreading successful practices across teams and organizations.
Effective improvement efforts help teams:
- Foster a culture that supports learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Engage stakeholders by using change management strategies tailored to different audiences. Use the Key Collaborator Interview Template to identify who should be involved and how they can contribute to your improvement effort.
- Build sustainability by embedding successful changes into everyday workflows and systems. Use the Key Pediatric Readiness Recognition Programs Collaborator Grid Template to determine where to focus your outreach and build champions for change.
- Spread proven interventions through leadership support, champions, and shared learning. Use the Action Plan Template to develop an implementation strategy that supports long-term sustainability.
- Create organizational structures that reinforce improvement over time.
🚀 Action Step
Reflect on your current or upcoming QI project and consider:
- Culture: What aspect of your organization's culture could support or create barriers to the improvement?
- Stakeholder: Who are the key stakeholders to engage with early to build and sustain momentum?
- Sustain: What improvements will ensure improvements will become embedded and last over time?
- Spread: How could a successful initiative be adopted and shared to ensure it is sustained over time and across departments and teams?
Write down one strategy you will use to strengthen the sustainability or spread of your improvement efforts.
Coming Up Next
You've built a strong foundation in QI principles and implementation strategies. In the 8th and final module, you'll explore practical tools, resources, and mentorship strategies that can help you put these concepts into action immediately and continue building a culture of continuous improvement.