Quality Improvement (QI) Projects
We match University of Toronto students with healthcare professionals in organizations throughout the GTA. These multidisciplinary teams complete QI and Patient Safety projects and have the opportunity to showcase their work during our annual conference.
WHAT ARE QI PROJECTS?
QI projects are an opportunity for students to gain practical experience leading system-level improvements in a healthcare setting.
Our Directors of Practical Experience link students with IHI Open School resources to increase their understanding of quality improvement and patient safety principles, match students with a 6-7 month project, oversee the progression of the project and provide interdisciplinary team networking.
Students work in teams of 3-4 lead by QI project champions (healthcare professionals) and are required to showcase their work at our annual conference in April/May.
UTIHI's QI Projects
UTIHI's QI Program was founded in 2010. The inaugural cohort, consisting of 24 students across 6 project sites, presented their work at our First Annual QuIPS Conference in 2011. Since then, UTIHI has facilitated student-led QuIPS projects at over 30 healthcare sites and institutions across the GTA. Our program was the original pilot site for the IHI's QI practicum certificate, and has repeatedly been recognized for its creation of exemplary QI projects and student learning opportunities. In recognizing our goal of providing accessible QI education to students and early career professionals, there are no costs associated with the program thanks to the contributions of our industry partners and volunteers. We thank all of our faculty advisors, instructors, clinicians, and QI leaders for their continued support of our program over the years.
WHY GET INVOLVED?
As QI project leads, students have the opportunity to address various complexities within in our healthcare system, and apply the fundamental principles of the IHI Open School to a real-life issue within our local community. As a lead, you will get practical experience to make a lasting impact.
WHO DO WE LOOK FOR?
Healthcare Professionals
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Healthcare professionals with experience in quality improvement interested in working with a team of students on a 7 month healthcare-related project at their site.
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Some examples may include:
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System-level improvement
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Patient-Interaction
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Clinical Decision Support
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Patient and Provider Technologies
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Students
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Current undergraduate, graduate or professional school students who would like to gain experience in quality improvement and patient safety
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Multidisciplinary teams of 3-4 which consist of a team lead and students from varied backgrounds such as:
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Health Informatics
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Life or Health Sciences
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Medicine
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Nursing
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Pharmacy
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Engineering
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Public Health
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Michener-UofT Joint Programs
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Other programs at the University of Toronto
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Student Applications
[STUDENT APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED]
Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2023 at 11:59 PM
We match University of Toronto students with healthcare professionals in organizations throughout the GTA. These multidisciplinary teams of 3-4 students complete QI/PatientSafety projects and have the opportunity to showcase their work during our annual conference in Late April / Early May
Application: https://forms.gle/CRAkrDu53tW17mTB7
For questions or comments, please email: utihi@studentorg.utoronto.ca
To ensure your email is responded to in a timely manner, please include the following subject header:
"UTIHI QI Project Student Applications - [Your Full Name]"
QI Project Champion Applications
[PROJECT APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED]
Deadline: Monday, August 28, 2023 at 11:59 PM
We look forward to offering the program during the 2023/24 academic year, with new learning modules and activities to better prepare students in applying the principles of quality improvement in Canadian healthcare settings.
For questions or comments, please email: utihi@studentorg.utoronto.ca
QI Programs Evaluation Committee: Julia Novielli (Director - Current), Tafsia Hussain (Director - Current), Konrad Samsel (Director - 2021), Elizabeth Khvatova (Director - 2020)
Please return the application form by Monday, August 28st, 2023, at 11:59 pm to the UTIHI Directors of Practical Experience (Tafsia Hussain and Julia Novielli) at utihi@studentorg.utoronto.ca
Current healthcare professional students at the University of Toronto are eligible to receive an Interprofessional Education (IPE/CACHE) credit following the completion of the UTIHI QI program.
Components of the UTIHI QI Practicum Program: Hands-on learning and QI work done in conjunction with a healthcare project champion (e.g., background/observational research, PDSA cycles, participation in weekly team meetings), completion of IHI e-learning modules on QI, participation in UTIHI QI workshops, completion of project-specific deliverables, and a 10 min. team presentation at UTIHI's annual conference.
Last Updated: 2023-09-01
Past QI Projects
2021-2022
Projects were presented at UTIHI's "Transformation: The Digital Age of Health" Online Conference on Saturday, May 14th, 2022.
Title: An Evaluation of Access Alliance's Social Work Program in Toronto (Access Alliance)
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*Abstract: The Social Work Program of Access Alliance provides mental health services to disadvantaged immigrants, refugees, and newcomers. To evaluate this program, qualitative data was collected from literature review, environmental scan, staff interviews, and qualitative responses of the client surveys. The quantitative data (e.g., roster size, types of encounters, frequency of visits) were collected from the EMR and the client surveys. The mixed-method analysis identified that clients (predominantly women and aged 25-44) were satisfied with services, and Counselors/Therapists support cross-team collaboration for patient wellbeing. However, client complexity asks the Social Work Program to assess workload as part of caseload management.
Title: Improving Goals of Care Discussions and Documentation (CAMH - Geriatrics Unit)
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[Presented Live]
Title: Engaging Patients to Improve Follow-up at the Bridging Clinic (CAMH - Bridging Clinic)
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[Presented Live]
Title: Reducing The Number of Overdue Routine Childhood Vaccinations at a Primary Care Clinic (Golden Mile Primary Care Clinic)
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[Presented Live]
Title: Implementation of Measurement-Based Care (MBC) in Ambulatory Psychiatry: Preliminary Results from a Pilot Program (Sinai Health)
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[Presented Live]
2020-2021
Student Projects were presented at the 2021 Online IHI Insight Conference on Thursday May 27th, 2021
Title: Post-operative Glycemic Control in the Gynaecological Oncology Population: A quality improvement project for prevention of surgical site infections (UHN-TGH)
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Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common and preventable cause of patient mortality and morbidity. Postoperative hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for SSIs and maintaining glycemic control (blood glucose <10mmol/L) is an essential component of the TGH SSI prevention bundle. This project aims to collect and analyze baseline data to inform a strategy for improving glycemic control in GO patients at TGH, as part of a larger strategy for SSI prevention.
Title: Evaluating The Implementation of The V-CES Pilot 2020 with Respect to Process Measures (Access Alliance)
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Background: In 2020, Access Alliance identified a virtual mode of collecting client data using a combination of telephone and email media during the COVID-19 pandemic titled the Virtual Client Experience Survey (V-CES). The aim of this project was to evaluate the V-CES with respect to process measures.
Title: Transfer of Accountability (UHN)
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Background: Over the past few decades, multiple studies have shown that inter-physician handover of patients harbours a high risk for harmful medical errors. Transfer of accountability (TOA) is the process, discussion and act of turning over responsibility for some or all aspects of a patient’s care from one health professional to another, on a temporary or permanent basis. Standardized TOA includes information transfer at care transitions and has been shown to decrease serious safety events (SSE’s) associated with transfers. Recently, research has shown that information transfer at care transitions is one of the top three contributors to SSE’s at the University Health Network (UHN). These findings have acted as an impetus for UHN to re-evaluate their TOA procedures, and specifically served to standardize these processes for inter-facility patient transfer. The aim of this project was to implement the rapid induction of a standardized electronic patient transfer tool between the psychiatric emergency services unit (PESU) at Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto General Hospital’s in-patient psychiatry ward, 8 Eaton South.
2019-2020
As part of the presentation process, audiences are encouraged to vote on the project they think best represents the IHI Open School's fundamental principles and "Triple Aim".
Click below to watch the QI Project presentations by our students!
Participating Healthcare Centres
(2010-2023)
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Toronto Western Family Health Team (2010)
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Meighen Manor Long Term Care Centre (2010)
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Hospital for Sick Children (2010, 2011, 2012[2], 2013[3], 2014[4], 2015[6], 2017, 2019)
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Mount Sinai Hospital (2010, 2018, 2019[2], 2021, 2023[2])
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Bridgepoint Hospital (2010, 2011)
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St. Joseph’s Hospital (2010, 2011[2], 2012, 2013)
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Sherbourne Family Health Team (2011)
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St. Michael’s Hospital (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015[2])
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Toronto General Hospital (2011, 2020[2], 2023)
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences (2011[2], 2012, 2014[5], 2015[2], 2016)
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Southeast Family Health Team (2011, 2012)
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Trillium Healthcare Centre (2012)
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Scarborough Hospital (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
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Providence Healthcare Centre (2012)
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UHN Telehealth (2012)
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Toronto East General Hospital (2013)
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North York General Hospital (2013[2], 2014, 2016)
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Rouge Valley Health System (2013)
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Central Toronto Community Health Centres (2015)
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Trillium Health Partners (2015[2], 2017)
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Woodbridge Medical Centre Family Health Team (2015)
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Canadian Mental Health Association (2015)
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Access Alliance (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
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Independent Family Practice (2015, 2016, 2018, 2021)
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Welfort Community (2015, 2016[2], 2018, 2019)
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St. Michael’s Hospital FHT (2015)
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Saint Elizabeth Health Centre (2015, 2016[2])
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Pro Health Medical Clinic (2016)
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Women’s College Hospital (2017, 2018)
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Michael Garron Hospital (2017[2], 2018, 2023)
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Sherbourne Health Centre (2017)
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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2021[2])