Blog: QI Improvement Coach Programme
As part of our broader South West Academic Health Science Network (SW AHSN) strategy to develop the quality improvement capacity across Cornwall, we sponsored Tamysn Anderson to complete a prestigious Improvement Coach Programme organized in partnership with Kent, Sussex and Surrey Academic Health Science Network and the Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI). The six day coaching programme provides a critical foundation in improvement science methodology and group facilitation techniques, with the aim of supporting improvement leaders coach teams and develop local improvement strategies.
Tamsyn Anderson, Director of Primary Care at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust talks to us about the benefits of attending the programme.
“This May I went on the QI Coach Programme organised by the Patient Safety Collaborative at the SW AHSN. It was a great opportunity to be taught by the world experts in QI. It was a really well run and well-structured course, with lots of coaching and opportunities for questions and interaction. The facilitators were really responsive to the group and allowed us to shape the day to our needs. I didn’t go with any preconceived ideas, but came away with the profound feeling that a bit of brain had opened up that wasn’t there before!
It has really changed how I look at data and information now, and working in a group was really positive, meeting people on the same journey as you. We all had different strengths and weaknesses in our knowledge but learnt so much from the course.
I now feel in a really privileged positon, when I’m sent data I am able to interrogate it more intelligently, I also ask to see charts in a more meaningful format.
I’m really lucky to be in an organisation where they are keen to embed QI and – coming back from after the course – to work with board members and other staff trained in QI looking to embed a recognised methodology for improvement across the trust. What I really like as a clinician is that you don’t need to be a skilled Project Manager or to produce a detailed Business Plan to demonstrate QI – you can do anything to embed QI. What’s great in my organisation is that I’m now pushing at an open door for QI methodology. Another element I found fantastic was sharing learning.
The AHSN have been really helpful with all of this – and it now feels like a snowball effect– gathering momentum, people and ideas as it goes along.”
For more information on our quality improvement programmes please contact deborah.gidman@swahsn.com .
