Will you be the next Quality Academy grad? If you’re excited to lead quality improvement initiatives in your workplace, speak with your supervisor. The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC) Quality Academy may be for you!

About the Quality Academy

The goal of Quality Academy is to “provide participants with the capability to effectively lead quality and safety initiatives, including teaching and advising others in the process of improving health care quality.” Experienced improvement advisors with the BCPSQC and VCH will guide and support participants through a six month residency program.

Every spring and fall session VCH supports 3 clinical staff applicants to attend this professional development program. In 2015, through the generous donation of Mr. Robert H. N. Ho , the Enhancing Patient Care Fund provided additional dollars to send an extra six staff through the Quality Academy. In 2016, VCH staff undertook the following projects:

• Develop a sustainability framework for leaders and staff to manage change initiatives successfully

• Develop a framework of interdisciplinary assessment and goal setting for patients on admission to the Multiple Sclerosis clinic

• Evaluate delays to patient discharge related to misplaced paper requisitions from Laboratory and Medical Imaging departments

“Being part of Quality Academy helped me to build my knowledge, skills and confidence in applying quality improvement principles while receiving support and mentorship” Meena Karsanji, Professional Practice Leader.

The application process

Quality and Patient Safety will be accepting applications for the spring 2017 BCPSQC Quality Academy program from November 24 – December 9, 2016. The 2017 spring cohort begins in April and ends in September. All applications for Quality Academy must be submitted to your Community of Care Director, Quality and Patient Safety by December 9, 2016. Applications are reviewed by a committee for alignment to VCH’s True North Goals, strategic priorities and to overarching quality and safety initiatives.

More information?

Visit the Quality Academy page on VCH Connect for more information and to print the application package. Questions may be directed to: EnhancingPatientCareProgram@vch.ca.