Event Details

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) frameworks provide a potentially fruitful approach for enhancing public health practice. Ontario’s public health units (PHUs) vary widely in their understanding and implementation of CQI. Building on earlier work from 2016, the research presented in this PHO Rounds supports a coordinated provincial approach by assessing PHUs’ CQI maturity. The objectives were to describe the current state of CQI in Ontario PHUs using a validated, Ontario adapted Quality Improvement Maturity Tool. Twenty five PHUs completed the modified survey. The results of the survey will be presented and discussed in terms of what this means for Ontario PHUs readiness for QI implementation.

Intended Audience: Public health professionals, MOHs/AMOHs, public health leadership, Ministry of Health staff with interest in quality improvement. 

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

• Describe the variation in CQI understanding and implementation across Ontario public health units (PHUs)
• Interpret provincial averages of CQI maturity scores, identify what the results indicate for system readiness
• Reflect on your own organization’s CQI practices

Dr. Madelyn Law, PhD is an implementation scientist, health system leader and educational innovator. Madelyn is passionate about understanding and impacting systems to achieve improvement and high performance. Through the Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program (IEQUIP) initiative, Madelyn works closely with health sector partners and Brock students to implement quality improvement projects. As an Associate Professor for 22 years and now as an Adjunct Professor, Madelyn has over 150 academic presentations, 50 journal articles and CIHR grants with a focus on public health competencies, emergency preparedness and the implementation of QI to advance safe and quality care. Currently, as a Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Risk at Niagara Health, Madelyn’s focus is working to support teams to enhance care through a learning health systems lens.

Dr. Kelly A Pilato, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Health Sciences at Brock University. Her research focuses on quality improvement, implementation science, and the intersections between health systems, health, and population well-being, as well as student wellness. Using a systems level approach to understand implementation processes and their real-work impacts, she is especially interested in how these processes support health and wellness across the lifespan, within the context of people’s lives and related social determinants of health. Her research is community-engaged, using interdisciplinary approaches that includes collaborations with public health agencies, universities, and provincial health organizations. 

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Other colleges, including the College of Family Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, may accept RCPSC accredited events on a per-hour basis. Please contact your relevant college should you have any questions.

In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check "Yes" beside the question "Do you require CME credits?" on the registration form.

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.