Meeting the Challenges of Quality Improvement Research

Submitted by ISRN Coordinati... on Tue, 01/29/2013 - 15:23

During the inaugural Improvement Science Summit, Dr. Carolyn Clancy* spoke of the challenges that face improvement science, particularly the difficulty of integrating evidence into clinical practice. In her keynote address Dr. Clancy stated that “research will not yield improvement unless research results are adopted and hardwired into practice.’’ Three years later we still recognize the challenge to test effective ways to spread and implement improvement strategies.

The ISRN’s response to this challenge has included diverse leadership representing various stakeholders, a set of national research priorities, a mission to advance the scientific foundation for quality improvement, and a research infrastructure to support multi-site collaboration on national improvement studies. These features of the ISRN narrow the
knowing-doing gap and point to effective improvement strategies that increase healthcare quality and patient safety. This aligns with Dr. Clancy’s recommendations to “develop clear boundaries, priorities, vocabularies, theories, methods, and tools_¹” in order to package knowledge for rapid uptake.

As the field of improvement science and the ISRN continue to evolve, resources to support this new field of research are needed. National research collaboratives, research methods conferences, and funding are all critical elements in discovering solutions.

Share your thoughts by commenting on the blog:

What are your thoughts on the current status of resources for
studying improvement, dissemination and implementation?

What actions will produce enough
scientists and clinicians working in the field?

Are we doing enough to meet the challenge
to span the knowing-doing gap?

Be a part of the solution!
Join us at the 2013 Improvement Science Summit
for presentations on cutting-edge topics in Improvement Science.

Summit Program Preview

Writing Successful Dissemination and Implementation Grants	Enola K. Proctor, PhD, Director, Dissemination and Implementation Initiative, and the Frank J. Bruno Professor of Social Work Research and Associate Dean for Faculty, The Brown School
Studying Improvements: Importance of Academic-Practice Partnerships	Lisa Mestas, RN, BAS, MSN, CNOR, Assistant Administrator of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer, University of South Alabama Medical Center

Present Your Work

Abstract submissions are being accepted through March 4, 2013.
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_{* Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality}

_{¹Improvement Science Research Network. (2010). Expert Perspectives, The Challenges Ahead. Network News, Vol.1 (2), p1. http://isrn.net/sites/isrn.net/files/documents/newsletter/ISRN_Newsletter_Oct_2010.pdf}

Dr. Clancy was the keynote speaker at the 2010 Improvement Science Summit. Her address offered insights into improvement science’s promise and the federal funding climate. View 2010 Summit Presentations>>