Quality Improvement (QI)

Quality Improvement (QI) in public health is the use of a deliberate and defined improvement process, such as Plan-Do-Study-Act, which focuses on activities that are responsive to community needs and improving population health. It refers to a continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes, and other indicators of quality in services or processes.

At OSDH, the quality improvement process is called ‘Transformation’ and is overseen by the Transformation Management Office (TMO). Transformation initiatives (often called ‘Strategic Initiatives’ or ‘SI’ for shorthand) are broad, overarching efforts to improve core or critical functions of the agency. This can sometimes include multiple program areas or focus on a specific process within a program area that affects all agency staff.

According to the PHAB Center for Innovation, 

“[Transformation] requires reimagining and developing a common vision to ensure the mindsets, capacity, resources, and workforce necessary to provide equitable Foundational Public Health Services and Essential Public Health Services, to advance health, wellbeing, and equity. It occurs through a fundamental shift in the way a public health system(s) is structured, functions and interacts through continuous quality improvement, innovation, partnerships, community-led efforts, and systems change. Simply put, it requires sustaining what is working, building on what can be improved, and reimagining what could be so that all people and communities can thrive."

Quality improvement is just one element of performance management. Performance management is a systematic process that helps an organization achieve its mission and strategic goals by improving effectiveness, empowering employees, and streamlining decision making. A comprehensive and robust performance management program includes the establishment of a quality improvement program.

The OSDH seeks to grow a culture of QI across all divisions and involving all staff. This is achieved by following a framework provided by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) called, “Roadmap to a Culture of Quality Improvement.” Through the roadmap, the OSDH is changing the way it looks at data, views challenges as opportunities, and engages all levels of staff into the performance management process.

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Transformation Management Office
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Email: Transformation@health.ok.gov