Sustaining improvement? The 20-year Jönköping Quality Improvement program revisited

• Background: There is scarce evidence of organization-wide and sustained impact of quality improvement (QI) programsin health care. For 20 years, the Jönköping County Council’s (Sweden) ambitious program has attracted attention from practitioners and researchers alike. Methods: This is a follow-up case of a 2006 study of Jönköping’s improvement program, triangulating data from 20 semi-structured interviews, observation and secondary analysis of internal performance data. Results: In 2010, clinical outcomes had clearly improved in 2 departments (pediatrics, intensive care), while process improvements were evident in many departments. In an overall index of the 20 Swedish county councils’ performance, Jönköping had improved its ranking since 2006 to lead in 2010. Five key issues shaped Jönköping’s improvement program since 2006: a rigorously managed succession of chief executive officer; adept management of a changing external context; clear strategic direction relating to integration; a broadened conceptualization of “quality” (incorporating clinical effectiveness, patient safety, and patient experience); and continuing investment in QI education and research. Physician involvement in formal QI initiatives had increased since 2006 but remained a challenge in 2010. A new clinical information system was being deployed but had not yet met expectations. Conclusions: This study suggests that ambitious approaches can carry health care organizations beyond the sustainability threshold.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

case study

CEO succession

culture

health services management

leadership

outcome and process assessment (health care)

patient safety

quality improvement

sustainability

total quality management

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)