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The aim of Advancing Quality (AQ) is to reduce unwarranted clinical variation in the care delivered to patients, helping care organisations to reduce avoidable hospitalisation, ill health, and premature death.

We use a reliable clinical data set to demonstrate what good practice looks like and gain consensus on care standards, providing a meaningful evidence base from which organisations can target areas for improvement.

Forums allow peers to come together supportively in the pursuit of best practice, sharing learnings and benchmarking performance. We embed learning solutions in to participating organisations and encourage the sharing of best practice to create a culture of continuous improvement.

Additionally, we can help to evaluate the impact of quality improvements enabling care organisations to evidence that they are delivering high quality care.

 

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What are the benefits to joining the AQ programme?

  • You get access to a reliable evidence-based pathway, with specified measures for your Trust to follow.
  • Access expert clinical leadership to give you the confidence and support that the chosen pathway is the correct treatment.
  • You will be able to use a web-based data collection tool to track adherence to the pathway.
  • Receive regular reliable reports with benchmarking and outcomes, so that you can track your improvements over time.
  • We help you bring clinical, audit and other hospital staff together regularly for collaboratives and networking opportunities.
  • Get personalised support in all aspects of quality improvement projects you undertake to progress your performance.

Clinical Focus Areas

We support Trusts to improve the reliability of their clinical practices and reduce variation across six clinical focus areas.

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Decompensated Liver Disease

Decompensated Liver Disease

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Elective Hip and Knee Replacement

Elective Hip and Knee Replacement

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Sepsis

Sepsis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Clinical Focus Areas

We support Trusts to improve the reliability of their clinical practices and reduce variation across six clinical focus areas.

This is a test

This is a test

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Decompensated Liver Disease

Decompensated Liver Disease

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Elective Hip and Knee Replacement

Elective Hip and Knee Replacement

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

Sepsis

Sepsis

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam feugiat tristique velit, vitae sagittis quam porta mollis. Phasellus nec hendrerit mauris. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas a risus turpis. Praesent nisi turpis, pretium eget risus a, congue dignissim neque. Pellentesque euismod ipsum eros, et sodales neque fermentum suscipit. Morbi suscipit arcu eget nunc feugiat molestie. Morbi vel sagittis augue. Nulla varius massa metus, vehicula pharetra ligula lobortis ac. Etiam sagittis eget nibh at auctor. Proin id massa sit amet sem cursus finibus.

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AQ: Elective Hip and Knee Replacement – Behind the Numbers

Demand for elective care has risen over the recent years and this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. This report includes insights from analysis of Advancing Quality (AQ) programme data […]

AQ: Improving Care for Patients with Sepsis in an Acute Trust

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust provides acute hospital services to 258,000 people across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. Acute care is provided at Southport and Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk and District General Hospital. Sepsis accounts for around 1,200 acute admissions to the trust each year.

AQ: Aintree Improvement Journey for Patients with Alcohol Related Liver Disease

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joined the Advancing Quality (AQ) programme at its launch in 2008 and is currently participating in eight clinical focus areas (CFA), this includes Alcohol Related Liver Disease (ARLD).

AQ: Reducing Avoidable Harm through Patient Assessment & Escalation

In patients who are, or become acutely unwell in hospital, there is evidence that deterioration is not always recognised or it is not acted on rapidly enough (NICE, 2007). The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust wanted to improve observation recording, recognition and response to deteriorating patients using the NEWS assessment tool.

AQ: Reducing Mortality in Community Acquired Pneumonia (Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

The NICE (2014) guidance publication ‘Pneumonia in Adult: Diagnosis & Management’ covers diagnosing and managing Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in adults. Its aim is to improve the accurate assessment and diagnosis of pneumonia to help guide antibiotic prescription and ensure that people receive the right care. It estimates a mortality rate between 5% and 14% for patients admitted to hospital with CAP.

AQ: Serum Lactate in the Treatment of Sepsis

he Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust (RLBUHT) identified an opportunity to improve the early diagnosis of patients with sepsis. Evidence suggests that the sickest sepsis patients have high levels of serum lactate. Timely measurement of serum lactate levels in patient pathways can improve early diagnosis which will lead to improved outcomes.

AQ: Embedding Early Assessment In Out of Hours Primary Care

Sepsis and deterioration is a huge clinical problem and 70% of sepsis cases originate in Primary Care. In the last five years we have experienced a culture shift in primary care; from seeing sepsis as an acute condition that is difficult to detect, to recognising the need to actively assess patients where infection could be causing significant illness or deterioration.

AQ: Effective Management of Frailty in Hip & Knee Replacement (Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

NHS England defines frailty as ‘where someone is less able to cope with and recover from accidents, physical illness or other stressful events’1. As the population ages, so frailty rates increase, presenting challenges to care systems. Elective hip and knee replacement patients undergo pre-surgical checks to ensure they are able to cope with their procedure.

AQ: Improving the Management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)- Role of the AKI Pharmacist

The 2009 NCEPOD report, Adding Insult to Injury, reviewed outcomes for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospital. The report found that medication was the most common AKI risk factor not assessed and only 15% of patients had their medication altered to renal doses. The national AKI programme Think Kidneys advises that medicines optimisation is essential to reduce the risk of AKI and mitigate its severity if it occurs.

AQ: Improving Care for Patients with Sepsis in an Acute Trust

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which has in recent years become a high priority for healthcare providers. Early recognition and prompt management of sepsis can improve outcomes for patients, reducing the risk of mortality and morbidity. This could potentially save 14,000 lives and result in 400,000 fewer days in hospital for patients every year, according to estimates by the Sepsis Trust.

AQ: A Collaborative Approach to the Management of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust has established a steering group to improve care for patients with AKI. The group is using the care bundle data from the Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA) Advancing Quality (AQ) AKI programme to monitor care delivery for patients with AKI and to provide a framework for improvement.

AQ: Improving the Ultrasound Scanning Process for Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) may sometimes be caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract, which can require treatment with a nephrostomy. It is important that people with AKI who are suspected of having a urinary obstruction receive an ultrasound scan early in their management, as outlined in national guidance (NICE, 2019).

If you’d like to find out more, or have comments and enquiries please get in touch.

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