Episode 14: Quality Improvement. A Conversation with Dr. Jordan Peck

Dr. Maxwell Boakye
December 15, 2021

We constantly talk about quality improvement on this podcast, but what does it actually take? Is one method better than another? Where should hospitals start in terms of improving quality? On this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jordan Peck of Southern Maine Healthcare and the Harvard School of Public Health for a multifaceted conversation about quality improvement in the medical field.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

Defining quality improvement in healthcare [2:24]
How do we assess the quality of a healthcare institution? [6:47]
Dr. Peck’s take on the best way to improve the quality of care [10:05]
Comparing different methods for quality improvement [13:17]
The relationship between patient safety and quality improvement [18:15]
The role of physicians in quality improvement [20:14]
Which problems should hospitals tackle first to improve quality? [22:42]
Looking back at the quality improvement and patient safety movements [25:45]
Examining the benefits and limitations of checklists [31:48]
Areas Dr. Peck thinks are overdue for a quality improvement [35:38]
The future of quality improvement and the “magic wand question” [38:32]

Quality improvement versus quality management

When you hear the term quality improvement, what comes to mind? It should be an obvious answer, as Dr. Peck put it, but what usually happens feels more like quality management. Rather than advancing our level of care, medical professionals can fixate on preparing for the next evaluation from a regulatory body or meeting random requirements needed for accreditation. Dr. Peck reminds us that quality improvement should be about providing the best level of care at the lowest price for the patient. It should move beyond checking a series of boxes and be an ongoing effort to improve patient outcomes and experiences in everything we do.

Putting patient safety first

Patient safety means getting back to the original mission of every physician: Do No Harm. It will not matter how good a hospital’s surgeons are if patients keep falling in the recovery rooms. Likewise, if urgent care providers lack the resources to catch abnormal lab results or connect with patients dealing with an acute crisis, safety is not being prioritized even if the provider and care team are excellent. Quality improvement means focusing on every aspect of medical care for better overall outcomes.

Creating room for improvement

A big aspect of improving a patient’s quality of care is the doctors themselves. Physicians play a major role in determining patient outcomes. Yet, they tend to be the most resistant to quality improvement efforts. Not for a lack of desire! One of the biggest barriers that prevent doctors from participating in quality improvement is time. Physicians are expected to continuously create healthcare access in their communities by seeing patients while constantly learning and growing in their craft. Sometimes there are not enough hours in a day and seeing patients typically takes priority over a class or a seminar. Healthcare institutions need to create enough margin for physicians between patients and learning to prioritize quality improvement.