Quality improvement in public health is the use of a deliberate and defined process, such as Plan-Do-Check-Act, which is focused on activities that are responsive to community needs and improving population health. It refers to a continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes and other indicators of quality services or processes which achieve equity and improve the health of the community.

Source: Riley et al, “Defining Quality Improvement in Public Health”, JPHMP, 2010, 16(10), 5-7.

Resources

• Quality Improvement Readiness Toolbox (18 MB)
• National Network of Public Health Institutes Public Health Performance Improvement Toolkit: Quality Improvement
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Performance Management and Quality Improvement
• National Public Health Improvement Initiative (NPHII)
• NACCHO Quality Improvement Toolkit
• Washington State Department of Health Public Health Performance Management Centers of Excellence
• Quality Improvement and Key Health Outcomes 

Training