IMPROVING OUTCOMES

30% Improvement in Pre-Operative VTE Prophylaxis Leading to Fewer VTE Events

IMPROVING OUTCOMES

7-day Reduction in LOS for Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

CREATING THE SCIENCE

Use of Psychological Principles Drives Hand Hygiene

Journal of Nursing Quality 2013

DEVELOPING LEADERS

Graduates Receive 2016 Hospital Excellence in Quality & Safety Award

IMPROVING OUTCOMES

39% Reduction in Post-Liver Transplant Patients Requiring ICU Care

CREATING THE SCIENCE

Team, Patient-Centered Outcomes and Professional Development Drive Participation in QI Projects

Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice 2016

IHQSE Newsroom

The latest in quality and safety performance

Publications

  • Journal of Hosp medicine

    Does Secure Messaging Help or Harm Patient Communication?Opens in a new window

    May 29, 2025
    This Point-Counterpoint debate article explores whether secure messaging improves or hinders inpatient communication. Dr. Michelle Knees (IHQSE faculty) and co-authors examine the evidence behind this increasingly common communication tool. The "Point" argues that secure messaging supports collaboration and efficiency, while the "Counterpoint" raises concerns about cognitive load, interruptions, and patient safety. A shared rebuttal underscores the need for thoughtful implementation and institutional guidance. This balanced discussion reflects the evolving communication landscape in hospital medicine and highlights the need for evidence-based best practices.
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  • Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment logo

    Clinical Decision Support and Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentOpens in a new window

    May 1, 2025
    To address rising opioid overdose rates, the study team developed and implemented an interruptive, electronic health record (EHR)-integrated clinical decision support (CDS) to increase buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in the emergency department. The CDS uses real-time EHR data to identify at-risk patients and guide clinicians through OUD evidence-based care pathways. This strategy significantly improved OUD treatment metrics and demonstrated high rates of adoption by providers. By balancing automation with clinician-driven decision-making, this approach offers a scalable, generalizable solution to address barriers in emergency department-initiated OUD care and supports a growing body of evidence for CDS as an effective implementation tool in high-acuity settings.
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  • Pediatrics Journal

    Clinical Pathways Programs in Children’s HospitalsOpens in a new window

    Nov 13, 2024
    Clinical pathways translate best evidence into the local context through a structured multidisciplinary care plan. However, little is known about clinical pathway programs especially in pediatric settings. This study sought to determine the prevalence of clinical pathway programs in pediatric hospitals and describe similarities and differences. The team, led by IHQSE graduate, Dr. Leigh Anne Bakel, surveyed 81 of 111 Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS) network hospitals regarding the existence of a clinical pathway program, number, type, creation or revision of clinical pathways as well as other pathway program characteristics. More than half of respondents confirmed that clinical pathways were in place; however, nearly half of those programs were hindered by limited funding and an inability to measure pathway outcomes or improvements in care.
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • Journal of Hosp medicine

    Disagree to AgreeOpens in a new window

    Nov 11, 2024
    IHQSE faculty member, Dr. Katie Raffel, along with colleague Dr. Josué Zapata, published a Leadership and Professional Development piece in Journal of Hospital Medicine, "Strategies to disagree productively: Persuasive DISNT". As providers, we often have experiences and insights that can improve how decisions are made within healthcare organizations. In expressing these perspectives, we may need to disagree. However, dissent is not always well-received. They discuss the need to: Determine value, Illustrate commitment, Show logic, Negotiate partnerships and Transform success into future impact in order to have the most success in disagreeing.
    Opens in a new window Full story

IHQSE Highlights

  • KICS logo

    KICS Clinic Provides Specialized Care for Children in Out-of-Home PlacementOpens in a new window

    Feb 19, 2025
    The Children's Hospital Colorado Kids in Care settings (KICS) Team, graduates of the IHQSE Certificate Training Program is featured in this article published in CU Anschutz News. KICS is a multidisciplinary clinic built to support the needs of children and youth in out of home placement (foster care and kinship care).
    Opens in a new window Full story
  • Interview with Dr. Leigh Anne Bakel

    3Qs for QI | Q&A with Dr. Leigh Anne Bakel

    Jan 29, 2025
    In an article published in Pediatrics, IHQSE graduate Dr. Leigh Anne Bakel and team set out to understand the landscape of clinical pathway programs in pediatric hospitals. In a survey of 81 Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS) network hospitals, more than half of respondents confirmed that clinical pathways were in place; however, nearly half of those programs were hindered by limited funding and an inability to measure pathway outcomes or improvements in care. We spoke with Dr. Bakel about the survey findings and what's being done to overcome the challenges of resourcing these programs.
    Full story
  • Interview with Stephanie Elston, MSN

    3Q's for QI | Q&A with Stephanie Elston, MSN

    Jan 7, 2025
    One of the greatest challenges in acute care is the ability to hire and retain nurses. With high turnover and a limited candidate pool, how do you build a highly reliable organization with fewer nurses? This advanced care setting calls for Bachelor-level nurses, but those can be hard to come by, and contract labor is expensive and unsustainable in the long term. IHQSE graduate, Stephanie Elston, MSN, and her team have built a model that optimizes support to the front-line staff, helping to relieve the disproportionate reliance on RNs.
    Full story

Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency (IHQSE)

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