In September 2022, the Access QI collaborative teams came together in Glasgow for Learning Session 1: Understanding your System. The day began with an address from Ruth Glassborow, Director of Improvement for Healthcare Improvement Scotland, who drew upon her own experiences with QI work to motivate and encourage the delegates.

“We’re living in a world where we feel like change is imposed upon us, things are done to us, which is more stressful. When you choose to change, when it’s your choice as an individual or a team, it becomes more enjoyable, and when you see the impact of those changes, it is really inspiring.” – Ruth Glassborow, Director of Improvement

Then, through a combination of teaching and hands-on group activities, the teams learned how to use Demand, Capacity, Activity and Queue (DCAQ) data, the theory of constraints, and process mapping to better understand what is happening in their systems and diagnose system constraints. Visit the Access QI: Improving planned care pathways toolkit for more information on using these tools to understand your system.

The teams then got straight to work reviewing their service data, identifying potential areas for improvement, and mapping out the pathways they wish to improve. Here are two case studies that illustrate how process mapping can be used: NHS Forth Valley Urology and NHS Dumfries and Galloway Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team.

Learn more about learning session one here.

The Access QI Collaborative’s second Learning Session will take place in November 2022. The session will focus on continuing to understand your system through the exploration of patient and provider experiences.