HEALTHQUAL International All Country Learning Network (ACLN): A Peer-Driven Knowledge Management Strategy and Community of Practice to Build Capacity for Sustainable National Quality Management Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

摘要

BACKGROUND: Peer communication about quality management (QM) between governments occurs rarely, if ever. The HEALTHQUAL All Country Learning Network (ACLN) is a knowledge management strategy providing a forum for peer exchange among 17+ countries to reinforce institutional improvement and QM. Panel and expert presentations together with participant-driven discussion sessions advance quality improvement (QI) knowledge and build countries' capacities to achieve sustainable national performance measurement strategies, improvement techniques and quality management frameworks. ACLN promotes knowledge exchange between Ministry of Health leaders and managers, with changing annual themes focused on programmatic priorities aligned with President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) goals. METHODS: ACLN joins national delegations of Ministry of Health and US-supported technical staff who are directly involved with HEALTHQUAL implementation. Plenary speakers provide expert technical information on improvement implementation emphasizing impact on specified health outcomes. Panels and country presentations feature Ministry of Health teams, allowing country representatives to share improvement challenges and successes. Open space, a meeting format of participant-chosen and led discussion sessions, facilitates further investigation on improvement topics. Workshops, case studies and a storyboard competition encourage peer exchange and motivate reflection about implementation. Learning and knowledge exchange activities include dedicated time for peer-to-peer discussion and informal networking opportunities which continue throughout the week and beyond the formal schedule, further reinforcing important south-to-south links between participants. RESULTS: ACLN fosters cross-country peer exchange between Ministry of Health leadership, managers and data analysts, where subgroups based on professional roles exchange knowledge and expertise. ACLN supports the development of sustainable national improvement programs through the sharing of strategies for practical implementation of quality management capacity building; highlights accomplishments in improvement across countries, including alignment of improvement activities with other national initiatives and priorities; fosters exchange about performance measurement strategies, including indicator development and data collection, data quality and analysis techniques while accelerating understanding of Ql knowledge, skills and strategies in core technical areas; and promotes communication of national improvement work through country presentations and a formal storyboard competition. In year four of the ACLN, country teams will be undertaking various leadership roles and responsibilities for key components of the agenda, including coaching of other country teams in core technical areas and management of country presentations. CONCLUSION: Peer exchange facilitated by the ACLN is fundamental to building sustainability through shared experience, knowledge and expertise, and in establishing an international community of practice to reinforce effective improvement strategies and spread.