Quality improvement in healthcare is all about making care better, safer and more effective for everyone. It’s the work behind the scenes that helps patients get the right care at the right time with fewer delays and errors.
These improvement efforts touch nearly every part of the healthcare system, including how services are delivered, how care teams communicate and how patient outcomes are measured. When effective, quality improvement leads to more reliable processes, stronger teamwork and—most importantly—better patient experiences.
You're likely already familiar with quality initiatives in your own workplace even if you haven’t referred to them by that name. From reducing hospital-acquired infections to improving patient safety, this kind of work is helping healthcare professionals make meaningful, lasting change.
Here are the keys currently driving quality improvement efforts. These parameters help healthcare providers improve patient care.
What does quality improvement mean in healthcare?
Quality improvement in healthcare is built around the idea that we can improve health care quality and safety by being more patient centered.
It starts with analyzing existing systems to identify gaps and problems.
At its core, quality improvement projects are about doing more of what works and less of what doesn’t. While that seems like it should be obvious, in practice, it means streamlining processes, reducing variation and making everyday workflows more reliable for both patients and healthcare professionals.
It’s really about taking a proactive approach that encourages everyone to seek continuous improvement and aim for better medical care and health outcomes—not just acceptable ones.
Why quality improvement matters in the healthcare industry
The value of quality improvement (QI) work is clear when you see what it helps achieve. Quality care, effective communication, smoother workflows and stronger patient outcomes are just the beginning of a systematic approach to elevating care.
These efforts require healthcare professionals to identify areas with inefficiencies early--while being adaptable enough to improve the patient experience in real time (rather than after the fact.)
Common goals of quality improvement initiatives
By now, you’re probably wondering what goals healthcare systems want to reach with their respective QI efforts. Naturally, specific priorities vary by organization, but most QI efforts focus on a few key areas that directly impact the process improvement required to improve patient care and overall healthcare services.
Here’s a rundown of a few common quality improvement goals.
Improving patient safety
Reducing medical errors, preventing hospital-acquired infections and strengthening safety protocols are common starting points for quality improvement in healthcare.
Clinical audits, data analysis and peer review are often used to identify safety concerns and guide improvement efforts.
Reducing variation and streamlining processes
Inconsistent workflows can lead to delays, miscommunication or missed care opportunities. Quality improvement projects often focus on optimizing processes to make them reliable, especially in high-volume areas like the emergency department. Addressing issues like long patient wait times and improving coordination across teams can make a meaningful difference.
Enhancing patient experiences
Many factors shape a patient’s overall experience, from long wait times to poor communication. Quality improvement professionals aim to make care feel more personal, responsive and efficient—whether by improving handoffs, reducing wait times or enhancing access so every patient population receives equitable care.
Improving clinical and health outcomes
Managing frequently diagnosed chronic conditions, supporting preventive care and tracking progress over time are key goals of many QI initiatives. When care is more proactive and better coordinated, outcomes tend to follow. Quality improvement tools like clinical audits and data analysis help healthcare professionals identify gaps and monitor progress.
Protecting patient data
Protecting health records has always been important in health care, and that certainly extends to electronic health records, which require careful oversight. Many quality improvement efforts focus on improved documentation practices to better ensure patient data is secure, accurate and accessible.
Increasing efficiency and resource use
The patient-to-provider experience is essential to healthcare, and improvement efforts also target how care teams use time, equipment and staffing resources. The goal is to streamline processes, reduce redundant tasks and address medication errors that prevent teams from offering better patient care.
Promoting care for marginalized populations
Many organizations are focused on improving care for underserved or marginalized patient populations. Quality improvement tools help healthcare providers identify disparities and design targeted initiatives that support fair and high-quality care delivery for all patients.
Quality improvement vs. quality assurance
It’s easy to confuse quality improvement with quality assurance. They sound similar and both aim to make healthcare better.
But QI isn't the same thing as quality assurance (QA).
Quality assurance is about making sure care meets required standards. It focuses on checking compliance, identifying errors and ensuring protocols are followed. It's sort of hindsight driven with a forward vision basically asking, “Did everything go according to plan?”
Quality improvement, on the other hand, is more forward-looking. It’s about asking what could work better to identify areas where care teams can improve outcomes, not just meet expectations. It encourages continuous learning and gives healthcare professionals the tools to test new ideas, adjust their approach and create meaningful change.
Both are important, but it’s quality improvement that tends to drive the bigger-picture changes in patient care and healthcare delivery.
It’s not just about meeting a minimum standard—it’s about pushing care to a higher level.
The role of data in quality improvement efforts
You can’t improve what you don’t measure.
That’s why data is one of the most powerful tools in quality improvement work. It helps care teams understand what’s happening, why it’s happening and where change is needed to improve outcomes across the healthcare system.
Types of data used in quality improvement
Quality improvement professionals rely on many forms of data to guide their work. Some of the most commonly used include.
- Patient outcomes data – recovery times, readmission rates, infection rates and other clinical outcomes
- Process data – wait times, discharge times, appointment scheduling and handoff communication
- Safety data – incident reports, medication errors, falls and hospital acquired infections
- Patient experience data – survey feedback, satisfaction scores and patient complaints
- Workforce data – staffing levels, overtime usage and employee satisfaction
Turning data into action
The value of data always lies in the insights. More information means more ways to check your work and track progress. More ways to track your progress means there's more data to inform future decisions.
For example:
- A review of patient data might reveal high readmission rates for heart failure patients, which leads to a new care coordination initiative.
- Survey results could highlight gaps in communication that lead to a patient experience improvement project.
- Analysis of safety incident reports may guide updates to staff training or handoff procedures.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), data collection and analysis are essential parts of the quality improvement process that improves outcomes and access to care.¹ Measurement helps healthcare teams understand current performance, track progress over time and make decisions based on evidence—not assumptions.
When healthcare organizations use data effectively, quality improvement efforts become more focused, measurable and sustainable.
Examples of quality improvement projects in healthcare
Quality improvement efforts can take many different forms depending on the setting, overall goals and patient population involved. That said, certain types of projects tend to pop up across the healthcare system. Why? Because they’re effective.
Here are a few examples of quality improvement initiatives healthcare organizations often take on.
- Reducing hospital acquired infections: From catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) to central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), infection prevention is always a priority. These QI projects often focus on hand hygiene, sterilization protocols and consistently using checklists.
- Improving medication reconciliation: Inaccurate medication records can lead to serious errors. QI projects in this area help ensure that a patient’s medications are reviewed, verified and communicated correctly across care transitions.
- Decreasing long patient wait times: Whether it’s the emergency room or outpatient clinics, long waits can lead to negative experiences and delayed care. Implementing process improvement methods to help teams streamline scheduling can reduce bottlenecks.
- Preventing readmissions for chronic conditions: Managing frequently diagnosed chronic conditions like diabetes, COPD or heart failure is a common QI goal. Related projects could include patient education programs, improved discharge planning or even just coordinating better follow-up care.
- Reducing medication errors: Revising prescribing protocols, improving barcode scanning procedures or enhancing team communication when medication is administered can make all the difference in reducing errors.
- Improving patient communication: Everything from discharge instructions to in-room communication boards can improve how information is shared with patients. Communication also boosts their understanding and trust which could ultimately support better outcomes.
- Enhancing documentation with electronic health records: Record-keeping is paramount to patients and health systems, so QI teams often review how clinicians use electronic health records to reduce duplication, improve accuracy and make sure important information is easy to access.
- Addressing inequities in care: Some QI efforts focus on identifying disparities in different patient populations and taking steps to ensure access to care is fair and balanced.
These are just a few examples, and the only limit on the possibilities are initiative and the needs of your team. Every healthcare organization has unique needs, which means QI work can isn't one-size-fits-all. It's about what fits your organization.
Skills needed for quality improvement professionals
You don’t need a special title to get involved in quality improvement work. In fact, if you’ve ever asked, “Why do we do it this way?” or suggested a better way to streamline a process, you’ve already taken the first step.
Quality improvement professionals come from all areas of healthcare. What matters most isn’t your job title; it’s how you think, how you collaborate and how you approach problems.
Many nurses, medical assistants, care coordinators and other healthcare professionals already use these skills every day without realizing how valuable they are to quality improvement efforts.
Here are a few attributes that can help you thrive in this kind of work.
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Quality improvement is about attention to detail and problem solving. Do you naturally spot patterns, think through root causes and ask good questions? Then you’re the type of problem solver needed to work in QI.
Data analysis and interpretation
You don’t need to be a data expert, but understanding what the numbers are telling you is a big part of the work. Whether it’s patient outcomes, safety reports or process metrics, quality improvement professionals use data to guide decisions—not guesswork.
Collaboration and teamwork
QI work is usually about structural weaknesses in process and rarely happens in isolation. In most cases, success quality improvement requires coordination between departments and can nurses, physicians, administrators and even IT teams. Being open to different perspectives and working toward shared goals is key.
Communication and leadership
Introducing change can be challenging. That’s why strong communication skills—and the ability to explain why a change matters—are so important. You don’t need to be in management to be a leader in this work.
Attention to detail and process improvement
Even small improvements can have a big impact. If you naturally pay attention to how things are done and look for ways to make them more efficient or consistent, you’re already thinking like a QI professional.
How healthcare professionals can get involved in QI
The good news is that quality improvement isn’t just for managers or administrators. It’s actually something healthcare professionals at all levels can contribute to, whether you’re a bedside nurse, a care coordinator, or a medical assistant, because there are real, practical ways to get involved in QI work and help make systems better for both patients and staff.
Start by observing your environment
Most quality improvement efforts begin simply by identifying where things aren’t working as well as they could. In many cases, that starts with day-to-day observations.
- Where do delays, duplications or miscommunications happen most often?
- Are there frequent issues with supplies, patient handoffs or documentation?
- Do patients often ask the same clarifying questions after discharge?
Paying attention to things that seem routine or patterns of inefficiency like these is a first step toward spotting improvement opportunities.
Get involved in existing QI projects or committees
If your organization has quality councils, performance improvement teams or safety committees, ask how you can join or support their work. These groups are often looking for input from people directly involved in patient care. Find out if you can contribute in any of the following ways:
- Joining a working group focused on process improvement
- Volunteering to help with data collection or chart reviews
- Participating in a pilot project testing a new workflow or tool
Ask about training or mentorship opportunities
Some healthcare organizations offer quality improvement training programs, mentorship or even continuing education opportunities related to quality improvement tools and frameworks. If you’re interested in expanding your role, ask your supervisor or clinical educator how to build those skills.
Even informal mentorship from someone already working on QI projects can help you learn the basics and feel more confident contributing to change initiatives.
Start small and stay curious
You don’t have to lead a system-wide project to make a difference. Some of the most effective QI efforts begin with a single conversation, observation or question.
In many cases, the first step to progress begins when people like you are willing to ask, “How can we make this better?”
Essential quality improvement tools and frameworks
The good news is you don’t have to start from scratch to improve patient care. Quality improvement professionals use well-established frameworks to help structure their work, engage stakeholders and measure success.
Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles
This acronym probably reminds you of how we once memorized the proper order of operations as kids.
It ultimately does serve a similar role in QI as a reliable framework healthcare quality improvement that helps teams plan small changes, test them, study the results and then act on what they learn.
Root cause analysis
When something goes wrong, root cause analysis helps teams look beyond surface-level mistakes and uncover the deeper issues that may have contributed to the problem. It’s especially useful in preventing recurring errors and improving patient safety.
Process mapping
Process maps are simple visual tools that help teams understand how a workflow actually functions. They can reveal hidden inefficiencies, communication gaps or steps that don't add value to patient care.
Checklists and clinical audits
Structured tools like checklists and clinical audits help standardize care, reduce variation and support consistency in day-to-day practice. They’re especially helpful in preventing errors and improving reliability in high-risk areas.
Data dashboards and quality measurement
Many healthcare organizations use dashboards to track quality metrics and monitor progress in real time. These tools give care teams a clearer picture of where improvement is happening and where more work is needed.
No matter which tool or framework is used, the goal is the same: to support continuous improvement that leads to better patient outcomes, safer systems and stronger collaboration across healthcare teams.
Getting started with a QI initiative
Being unsure of where to start is a hurdle many people have to clear when considering how to make a difference. In most cases, the first step to improving processes and care in your workplace through a quality improvement initiative is, well, initiative.
You don’t need a big budget or a leadership title to kick off a quality improvement initiative. Often, the most effective efforts start small—with one issue, one team and taking the initiative to ask if things could be done better.
Start by identifying a process that causes delays, confusion or extra work. Maybe it’s an inconsistent discharge routine, a communication gap between shifts or repeated medication errors. Pinpointing a problem is the first step toward solving it.
From there, try a simple quality improvement method like the PDSA cycle. Remember, you don’t have to overhaul everything at once. You can start by planning a small change, testing it out and reflecting on the results. Then, you can decide whether to scale it up or adjust your approach.
Most importantly, don’t go it alone because you’re not alone in this. Collaborate with colleagues, engage stakeholders early and stay open to feedback. Even the smallest improvements can create ripple effects that benefit your whole patient population.
Quality starts with people like you
Quality improvement in healthcare doesn’t have to be complicated but it does need to be intentional. At its core, it’s about making care better, safer and more efficient for the people who need it most.
Better people lead to better systems. Better systems lead to better outcomes. And better outcomes mean better care for everyone.
QI initiatives are an important part of healthcare leadership, management and administration. And those jobs can be far more interesting than you might think! Check out What I Wish I Had Known Before Starting a Healthcare Administration Career to see why.
1Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Practice Facilitation Handbook: Module 2 – Key Components of Quality Improvement https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/tools/pf-handbook/mod2.html
