Title

Advancing Quality Improvement in Public Health by Exploring CQI in Alabama’s Home Visiting Program

Date

2021

Author(s)

Matthew Fifolt, MaryCatherine Arbour, Heather H. Johnson, Elisabeth Johns, and Julie Preskitt

Brief Type

Report

Model(s)

  • Other Models

Description

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is the use of a deliberate and defined improvement process to advance organizational systems. Quality improvement in public health is increasingly widespread, but there are still limited examples of success or descriptions of developmental trajectories for building CQI capacity. The goal of this article is to add to the extant knowledge on the topic by describing one state’s implementation of evidence-based CQI in the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program between 2014 and 2019. On the basis of a systematic review of Annual Yearly Progress reports and semi-structured key informant interviews, analysis yielded 3 themes that facilitated successful implementation of CQI in Alabama: starting small and building capacity; engaging in continuous and supported learning; and establishing and maintaining a culture of quality. This project demonstrates that CQI can help public health practitioners refine processes and grow capacity to best serve clients’ diverse needs. (author abstract)

Data Collection Methods

  • Program administrative record reviews

Status

Finished

For More Information

Fifolt, M., Arbour, M., Johnson, H. H., Johns, E., & Preskitt, J. (2021). Advancing quality improvement in public health by exploring CQI in Alabama's home visiting program. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. 28(1): E33-E36. https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000001080
Author Contact Information:
Matthew Fifolt
mfifolt@uab.edu

Topics

  • Program Quality, Continuous Quality Improvement, and Fidelity