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Background Information |  |
Each implementation effort has its own context; every practice change, standard, staff and patient population has its own characteristics and conditions. You may choose to employ the suggested resources and checklists differently than your VIHA colleagues would in another area.
The aim of this Workbook is to promote critical thinking so that the right questions get asked and the collaborative application of knowledge is supported. It should also be a useful vehicle for engaging others in thinking about implementation and best practices.
This Workbook is focused on implementation and does not cover how to develop a practice change.
A Definition of Standards
Standards may be presented in one of several different forms, such as policies, procedures, protocols, clinical guidelines, care maps, clinical pathways and competencies. For the purposes of this Workbook, Standards are defined as "desired and achievable levels of performance against which actual performance can be compared" (CCHSA 2004).
Here are the fundamental concepts behind practice change implementation in the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Goals of Implementation
Using a quality improvement approach and maximizing the use of health professional standards results in a number of positive outcomes:
- Consistent and effective care with a best practice approach;
- Improve the quality of client care and health outcomes;
- Transfer research evidence into practice;
- Assist with clinical decision making;
- Resolve problems in clinical settings;
- Provide clear definitions of care processes, practitioner roles and responsibilities;
- Improve client and staff satisfaction;
- Identify gaps in research;
- Improve efficiencies and reduce cost.
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Principles of Practice Change
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Now that you know the goals you are trying to achieve, click on the papers to your left to learn about some of the underlying principles regarding standard implementation.
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