Quality Improvement Plan - Part Three Quality improvement initiatives are only effective when the organizational structure and culture are aligned with a similar vision for the delivery of quality care and a commitment to continuous improvement. Organizations must take an active approach to measuring, evaluating, and improving processes by creating an environment that supports quality improvement initiatives (Spath, 2014). Creating this type of environment should be evident from senior management levels to front-line employees, creating a culture that supports the delivery and sustainability of quality care. The following paragraphs will identify and discuss the authority structure of the quality improvement plan, including the roles and responsibilities of members involved in implementing the plan. Additional discussion will focus on the roles of communication, education, and evaluation of the quality improvement plan. Finally, identifying and discussing the impact of external entities on the project and strategies needed to overcome potential challenges related to project implementation. Authority Structure Traditional quality management systems employ a tiered authority structure appointing the highest level of authority to the board of directors. In 1990, the Veterans Affairs Central Office decentralized the quality management structure to allow facility staff to develop a personalized approach to quality improvement based on the needs and circumstances of their individual facilities (Young, Martin, Charns, & Barbour, 1997). Individual Veterans Health Administration facilities employed a quality management structure appointing the facility director as an official with a...... middle of paper...... and preparation to overcome barriers preventing successful implementation of quality improvement plans. ReferencesInstitute for Healthcare Improvement (2008). 5 Million Lives Campaign. Starter Kit: Practical guide to reducing surgical complications. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/HowtoGuideReduceSurgicalComplications.asp xKelly, D.L. (2011). Applying quality management in health care: a systems approach (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. Spath, P. (2014). Introduction to Healthcare Quality Management (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. Young, GJ, Charns, MP, & Barbour, GL (1997). Quality improvement in the US Veterans Health Administration. International Journal for Quality Health Care, 9(3), 183-188. Retrieved from http://www.intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/9/3/183.full.pdf