What should successful QI initiatives aim for in terms of sustainability?

Successful Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives must aim for the integration of improvements into standard practice to ensure sustainability. This approach means that the changes made as a result of the QI initiatives are not viewed as one-time efforts but are instead embedded within the organization's regular procedures. By doing this, organizations can ensure that the benefits of the improvements are maintained over the long term, creating a culture of continuous improvement.

When improvements are integrated into standard practice, they become part of the daily operations and are more likely to be sustained even when project teams disband or when new staff members come on board. This integration also fosters an environment where ongoing refinement and adjustment of processes can take place, thus enhancing the quality of care and operational efficiency over time.

In contrast, focusing on short-term project completion does not support lasting change, as it may lead to abandoning improvements once the project ends. Eliminating all changes after implementation would negate any gains achieved and be counterproductive. Moreover, simply documenting processes without follow-through can result in a loss of momentum, where learned improvements do not translate into actionable practice.