Quality improvement is at the core of WentWest’s work, and includes team-based approaches, peer review, reflective practice, best practice, and data analysis. Quality improvement (QI) involves regularly reviewing and developing processes within general practice to provide better quality care. Quality improvement aims to bring about positive change in practices and positively impact patient health outcomes. QI activities can cover all parts of health care services, from the management of patient appointments, to staff training and clinical education, and are designed to build safer, effective, timely, accessible patient-centred practices.
At WentWest, we are investing in the best tools and resources to help health professionals drive quality improvement in their practices. Effective data collection and analysis of QI activities not only demonstrates progress against practice goals, but also helps determine where additional changes can be made.
Practice Quality Improvement Plans
WentWest’s Practice Development Team work closely with practices to help support improvements that result in better standards of patient care, more effective practice management, and greater staff satisfaction. The Practice Quality Improvement Plan is a tool for general practice to be used on an ongoing basis. It documents opportunities for improvements according to RACGP 5th Edition Standards, Criterion QI1.1 – Quality improvement activities.
Making quality improvements to the structures, systems, and clinical care using the practice’s information and data improves patient safety and care. Practice team engagement with the safety and quality systems is essential to help implement quality improvement activities.
Using a Practice Quality Improvement Plan, practices can:
- Track quality improvement efforts
- Evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement activities
- Identify if improvements were made or other actions are required to address quality issues
- Act as a learning tool for practice staff involved in improvement activities
Tools to Support Quality Improvement
Lumos: Lumos is a joint initiative between WentWest and NSW Health to help practices better understand their patient’s journey across the health system. The program securely links encoded, de-identified data from general practices to other NSW health services. Building clearer patient profiles can lead to more data-driven quality improvement activities.
Pen CS Tools: Pen Computer System (CS) tools, such as the Pen Clinical Audit Tool (PenCAT) and Topbar, improve the accuracy of clinical data and improve clinical decision making across Quality Improvement areas. WentWest funds PenCAT and Topbar licenses from Pen CS for all practices in Western Sydney.
GoShare: GoShare is a digital patient education platform that allows health professionals to send tailored, trusted health resources to patients by email or SMS to help manage their medical conditions. GoShare can be used to distribute targeted information to patients that address specific MBS Quality Improvement areas, and the platforms overview reports measure against QI goals. WentWest has funded GoShare and GoShare Plus subscriptions for all Western Sydney general practices.
Health Intelligence Unit: WentWest’s Health Intelligence Unit (HIU) provides trusted data insights that support, inform, and improve the health and wellbeing of the Western Sydney population. Our HIU is continuously supporting primary care transformation through data-driven quality improvement initiatives, risk stratification, predictive modelling, and structured QI reports.
HealthPathways: Western Sydney HealthPathways provides relevant, up-to-date clinical information on managing patient medical conditions, as well as referral information for local services. This helps improve patient care.
To access HealthPathways, you will need the general login details. For more information, please contact our HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au
For WSLHD and SCHN Staff, please access HealthPathways via the WSLHD/SCHN Intranet Applications page.
Additional digital health tools such as secure messaging, electronic prescriptions, electronic discharge summaries, My Health Record, Telehealth, and Pathology e-Requests contribute to general practice quality improvement. To find out more about the tools available to your practice, contact your WentWest Practice Development Team lead.