Improvement initiatives across the Island Health region are aligned to the organizational priorities plan and the broader strategic framework *Island Health login required*. Recognizing the importance of the medical staff voice and perspective, medical staff at Island Health are encouraged to participate in quality improvement, engagement, and research activities both in partnership with the Health Authority and through their Medical Staff Associations, Divisions of Family Practice and Doctors of BC.
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Are you looking for assistance navigating external funding or engagement opportunities? We’re here to help! |
Introducing the Medical Staff Quality Improvement Team
The Medical Staff Quality and Improvement (MSQI) team are dedicated to supporting Island Health organizational priorities through engaging medical staff in improvement initiatives island-wide. The MSQI team is here to enhance medical staff motivation and capacity to contribute to data-driven, measurable system-level improvements through:
- Supporting organizational priorities
- Development of system improvement initiatives to support evidence-based care
- Facilitation of initiatives to increase physician capacity
- Assistance in navigating funding and engagement opportunities
Sustainability is a key goal for all MSQI supported work. MSQI has the expertise and access to resources to help Island Health teams achieve, expand, and demonstrate sustained system change while building physician knowledge about Island Health structures and how they work.
Navigating Funding and Engagement Opportunities
MSQI are well connected with external funding partners. This page highlights some of the external funding opportunities available through the Joint Collaborative Committees that promote quality improvement including the Shared Care Committee and the Specialist Services Committee.
The funding featured on this page is not an exhaustive list of available funding opportunities. Medical Staff are encouraged to use the resources available to them and pursue opportunities for improvement in their area.
Expand the headings below to learn more about funding opportunities that support Medical Quality at Island Health.
Introducing Join Collaborative Committees (JCCs) Funding
The Joint Collaborative Committees represent a partnership of the Government of BC and Doctors of BC as outlined in the Physician Master Agreement. Funding flows through four JCCs: Specialist Services Committee (SSC), Shared Care Committee (SCC), Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC) and the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues.
It is expected that those requesting funding regardless of the source are medical staff members in good standing within their divisions.
- What is the Shared Care Committee
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The Shared Care Committee engages and supports family and specialist physicians to co-lead and collaborate with nursing and allied health care providers, patients, and health system partners on quality improvement projects to improve care and facilitate collaboration.
- Goal is to provide coordinated healthcare experience for all British Columbians by building the relationship between FPs and Specialists.
- Focus is on coordinating complex care for older adults, partners in care/transitions in care, polypharmacy risk reduction and spread networks including adults MHSU, chronic pain, maternity and palliative care.
- Patient-centered quality improvement.
Project selection decisions are at the Shared-Care level. Click here to learn more about Shared Care Project Funding Guidelinesnor contact funding liaison, David Hebb (dhebb@doctorsofbc.ca), to develop an expression of interest for funding.
If you aren’t sure if Shared Care is the right fit for your project idea, consider reaching out using the Island Health Navigating Funding Expression of Interest.
To find out more about Shared Care Committee (SCC) initiatives, please visit: https://sharedcarebc.ca/ - What is the Specialist Services Committee?
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SPECIALIST SERVICES COMMITTEE (SSC) improves patient care by engaging physicians to collaborate, lead quality improvement and deliver quality services with SSC supports and incentives. SSC is one of four joint collaborative committees of Doctors of BC and the BC government and includes regular representation from health authorities.
Learn more about the 9 funding initiatives supported by SSC, including the Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative, by visiting their website or by clicking here to read their brochure
- Health System Redesign Initiative - Funding Available
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Health System Redesign (HSR) funding facilitates physician engagement and collaboration in the redesign and/or quality improvement of health services provided by Island Health. The goal of HSR funding is to enable and ensure that physicians have the opportunity to participate in planning, decision making and implementation of new or revised health services in a manner that contributes to alignment across the health system.
Intake is ongoing throughout the year. For additional details contact Julia.Porter@islandhealth.ca
You can learn more about HSR at Island Health by visiting our page on the medical staff website.
Already approved? Visit our dedicated Approved Projects page to find out what happens next!
Thinking about a redesign project or initiative?
Let’s talk! Fill out the Expression of Interest form or email Julia.Porter@islandhealth.ca to get started. - Facility Engagement Initiative (FEI) – Funding Available
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Facility Engagement is a BC-wide initiative of the Specialist Services Committee that supports meaningful consultation and collaboration among facility-based medical staff and authority administrative leadership. It is strengthening communication and relationships, and creating effective processes for working together on shared priorities that improve patient care and the work environment. A few examples of shared priorities include:
- Leading clinical improvement projects across departments/interdisciplinary teams
- Working on hospital-wide priorities like access and flow, culturally safe care, hospital redevelopment
- Supporting recruitment & retention
- Supporting regional priorities like medical staff engagement in EHR implementation in facilities, planetary health, patient transport
- Addressing medical staff wellness and burnout
Funding decisions including requirements for funding approval, project guidelines, and funding amounts are determined and decided by each local Medical Staff Association.
Click here for an overview on Facility Engagement Initiative.
- Physician Quality Improvement - Education Program
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Physician Quality Improvement (PQI) is a professional development and education program for Community or Facility-based Medical Staff who want to enhance their quality improvement capacity, build connections with colleagues, and create a continuous improvement culture to transform our local health system.
- Includes 3 levels of quality improvement education: Level 1, introduction to Healthcare Improvement (self-paced, online); Level 2, Quality Improvement Fundamentals (2-day in-person workshop), and Level 3, Cohort Training (comprehensive 12-month cohort training program).
- Dedicated coordinators, physician advisors and physician mentors.
- Intake for cohorts happens once per year with fixed-submission deadlines through a competitive application process. Applications require an Executive Sponsor that oversees the area of proposed project focus.
- Application decision is at the SSC-HA level.
Participation is available to fully-licensed FPs, SPs, midwives and nurse practitioners with sessional funding provided to FPs and SPs.
- Alums network to continue QI work and collaborate with peers.
Click here to learn more about PQI at Island Health or contact PQI@islandhealth.ca.
Click here for an overview on the Physician Quality Improvement Initiative from the SSC Website. - Spreading Quality Improvement
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Spreading Quality Improvement (SQI) was created to spread successful SSC Quality Improvement Projects and offers resources to spread successful projects locally, regionally, and beyond.
Eligible projects must have originated from an SSC initiative (Facilities Engagement, Health System Redesign, Physician Quality Improvement, or the Sauder Physician Leadership Program).
Click here to learn more about SQI from a provincial perspective.
- Sauder Physician Leadership Program
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The UBC Sauder School of Business and UBC Faculty of Medicine offers the Sauder Physician Leadership Program, a 6-month cohort education opportunity offered biannually from September to April or from January to June. Island Health holds 8 seats for each intake.
The Sauder Physician Leadership Program is designed for physicians who are taking on leadership roles in their health authority, and who wish to augment their medical background with applied, forward-thinking management skills. It is expected that participants will have completed some introductory management and leadership training (i.e. PMI etc.) prior to enrolling in this program.
Click here for an overview of application processes and for program details.
You can contact the Medical Staff Communications, Education & Development team at MedStaffDevelopment@islandhealth.ca for questions and to submit your applications.
- Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues
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The Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC) was established in 2001 to enhance the availability and stability of physician services in rural and remote areas of British Columbia by addressing some of the unique and difficult circumstances faced by physicians.
A number of supports are available ranging from Rural Incentive Programs to education opportunities, including the Rural Continuing Medical Education Community Program and you can learn more by visiting the Rural Practice Programs page on the Medical Staff Website.
For assistance navigating these programs, you can contact the Rural Programs’ Liaison at ruralprograms@islandhealth.ca.
- Family Practice Services Committee
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The Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC) aims to strengthen full-service family practice and patient care in BC.
FPSC offers several programs and initiatives to improve the way family doctors deliver care, including The Practice Supports Program (PSP), an initiative focusing on quality improvement.
The Practice Supports Program:
- Provides a suite of evidence-based educational services and in-practice supports to improve patient care and physician experience.
- Supports doctors to work towards an integrated system of care via the patient medical home and primary care home model.
- Enhances use of health technology, including using EMRs more effectively and applying virtual care tools to your practice
Click here to learn more about PSP, or you can email psp@doctorsofbc.ca.
We encourage you to explore our medical staff website Medical Quality content to learn more about ongoing initiatives or opportunities for involvement, including Choosing Wisely at Island Health and the Provider Profile.
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MSQI are here to help! Whether you have a project idea you are looking to collaborate on or want to become more involved in health system improvements or QI, we invite you to reach out. |
Island Health is dedicated to empowering medical staff to improve quality of care by identifying ways to improve care across departments.
We invite you to celebrate medical staff achievements in quality as work continues to improve patient care through dedicated team-based improvement. Please share your stories with MedicalStaffQI@islandhealth.ca.
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Health System Redesign at Island Health Funding is available to support physician engagement in health authority priorities. Visit our dedicated HSR website to learn more how this funding can support your redesign or quality improvement work or reach out to Julia.Porter@islandhealth.ca |
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Want to learn more about how SSC and Shared Care funding transforms healthcare and supports physicians? The Exchange Specialist Service Committee News Shared Care News |
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Explore Medical Quality initiatives at Island Health including: |