Quality and Safety

Quality Improvement

Since the publication of the Washington-based Institute fo Medicine reports To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm, there has been a growing focus on medical errors and the extent to which health care quality is compromised by a failure to adopt procedures that guarantee the safety of patient care. This focus on reducing errors and increasing safety has reinforced the importance of measuring and documenting quality outcomes. When quality measure are linked with a commitment to keep stakeholders – such as students, parents, and teachers – informed, they can bring about broad improvements in health services.

Two quality improvement approaches are provided here. The first link is to the Continuous Quality Improvement Tool that was first developed for school-based health centers in 2001 by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools. The tool has now been moved to the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care for on-going testing and development. The second link is to a report from the Austin Independent School District that summarizes performance measures it has developed to assess the effectiveness of its school health program. We are grateful to the Children’s Hospital Student Health Services for permitting us to post this report.

Continuous Quality Improvement Tool for School-Based Health Centers 

Performance Measures for a School Health Program Austin (TX) Independent School District Report 2000 - 2001 

Safety

Health care safety at school has focused on medication management and the reduction of errors. Other issues, however, are receiving increased attention, including in-school food allergy management and permission for students to carry their own ‘rescue’ medications. School-based health professionals are also involved in larger school safety issues such as emergency preparedness and the maintenance of a safe school environment. Those topics are addressed under School Health Issues.

Medication Administration and Management

A Systems Approach to Reducing Risk and Strengthening Quality in School Medication Management Summary of a conference (PDF Version)

Powerpoint Presentation: Patient Safety and Quality: Where Does Health Care in Schools Fit In? Presenter: Howard Bauchner, MD, Professor of Pediatrics & Public Health, Director, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Editor-in-Chief, Archives of Disease in Childhood. 
Download Powerpoint Slides

Improving Safety and Quality in Medication Management in Schools. A CHHCS presentation at APHA Annual Conference 2002. 

Study Finds More Children, More Medications, More Errors. E-Journal, January 2001 (Vol. 1, No. 11) 

CHHCS Parent Resource Center. Medication Management at School.

Asthma

Jury Awards $9 million in Asthma Death in School. E-Journal, June 2002 (Vol. 3, No. 4)

CHHCS Parent Resource Center. Health General: Asthma. 

Food Allergies

Journal Summarizes What's Known about Pediatric Food Allergy. E-Journal, June 2003 (vol. 4, No. 4)

CHHCS Parent Resource Center. Food Safety.