The Making a Difference Quality Assurance Framework has been developed over the past two years as a tool to support staff to use audit as a way to evidence the quality of care that is being delivered.
Historically ward based audits were random and uncoordinated and now this initiative brings together all of the audits into a structured programme. It includes topics such as falls prevention, pressure ulcer prevention, safe medicines management and mealtime experience, the things that are important to patients, their families and the staff delivering direct patient care.
The Quality Streets Extravaganza event, being held on Wednesday 14 November 2018, is being held as a celebration to showcase the work our teams are doing putting ‘Making a Difference’ into practice.
It is hoped that the event will increase awareness of how evidence based practice is used to enhance patient safety and experience across the hospital. It will also show how staff are encouraged to contribute to improving quality and making suggestions for areas that can be incorporated into the programme.
Practice Development Nurse Helen Ashby, who is involved in the project, says; “Audits play a vital part in ensuring our patients are well cared for. The Making a Difference framework is designed to assess both the theory and practice elements of care.
“This framework has enabled us to monitor the programme centrally avoiding any duplication of data collection, releasing more time to deliver care at the bedside. It is also an effective way to support staff to keep up to date with practice standards and to enable them to contribute ideas to quality improvement."
The event is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about the assurance framework. It is being held in the Burrage Centre at the James Paget University Hospital and you can drop in between 10am and 4pm when you will see and experience how we are making a difference using Quality Streets.
