ACS TQIP Collaborative Toolkit: A Guide for Getting Started and Maintaining Momentum

In 2014, the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS TQIP) expanded its reach from individual trauma centers to trauma systems, or Collaboratives. ACS TQIP began offering Level I and II trauma centers participating in a collaborative the opportunity to benchmark risk-adjusted outcomes at the state, regional, or hospital-group level.

Although trauma system leaders recognize the value of system-level performance improvement initiatives, taking the initial steps to start Collaborative development can be difficult. Due to the inherent heterogeneity of trauma systems in regard to structure, funding, geography, and culture, the starting point of Collaborative development may differ from group to group. In addition to challenges involving initiation, more mature Collaboratives often face obstacles in maintaining their early momentum.

Leaders from our mature ACS TQIP Collaboratives recognized this challenge and compiled their “lessons learned” into a comprehensive toolkit to help new TQIP Collaboratives get started. The ACS TQIP Collaborative Toolkit serves as a resource to assist leaders in addressing potential challenges and as a road map for Collaborative development. It provides guidance on a wide range of topics, including: getting started, leadership and engagement, infrastructure, funding, performance improvement project selection, data management, and sustaining momentum.

Sample Confidentiality Statements: [1] [2] [3]

Sample Collaborative SMART Goals

Sample Meeting Agendas [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Sample Collaborative Application Form

Sample Collaborative Survey Questions

Sample PI Topic Proposal Submission Protocol

The Drill-Down Exercise helps Collaboratives manage a self-directed drill-down of system-level outcomes. Using the TQIP analytic tools as your primary resources, hospital-level discoveries in clinical care or data quality are aggregated for the purpose of discussion and the development of performance improvement initiatives at the system level.