Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kosuyolu Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2023 Aug 1;64(2). doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezad293.
The Michigan Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (MSTCVS), a pioneer in initiating and nurturing quality improvement strategies in statewide cardiothoracic surgery, has been running the Quality Collaborative (MSTCVS-QC) program since 2001. This initiative has significantly grown over the years, facilitating at least 4 in-person meetings annually. It actively engages cardiac and general thoracic surgeons, data managers and researchers from all 32 non-federally funded cardiothoracic surgery sites across Michigan. Broadening its influence on joint learning and clinical outcomes, the MSTCVS-QC formed a strategic partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state's largest private insurer, to further promote its initiatives. The MSTCVS-QC, operating from a dedicated QC centre employs an STS-associated database with additional aspects for data collection and analysis. The QC centre also organizes audits, facilitates collaborative meetings, disseminates surgical outcomes and champions the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives related to cardiothoracic surgery in Michigan. Recognizing the MSTCVS-QC's successful efforts in advancing quality improvement, the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS) introduced a fellowship program in 2018, facilitated through the EACTS Francis Fontan Fund (FFF). This program allows early-career academic physicians to spend 4-6 months with the MSTCVS-QC team in Ann Arbor. This article chronicles the evolution and functionality of the MSTCVS-QC, enriched by the experiences of the inaugural 4 EACTS/FFF fellows. Our objective is to emphasize the critical importance of fostering a culture of quality improvement and patient safety in the field of cardiothoracic surgery with open discussion of audited, high-quality data points. This principle, while implemented locally, has implications and value extending far beyond Europe, resonating globally.
密歇根胸心血管外科医师学会（MSTCVS）是启动和培养全州心胸外科质量改进策略的先驱，自 2001 年以来一直在运行质量协作（MSTCVS-QC）计划。该倡议多年来显著发展，每年至少举办 4 次现场会议。它积极吸引来自密歇根州所有 32 个非联邦资助的心胸外科手术地点的心脏和普通胸外科医生、数据管理员和研究人员。为了扩大其对联合学习和临床结果的影响，MSTCVS-QC 与密歇根州最大的私人保险公司 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 建立了战略合作伙伴关系，以进一步推动其倡议。MSTCVS-QC 从一个专门的 QC 中心运营，该中心使用与 STS 相关的数据库进行数据收集和分析。QC 中心还组织审核、促进合作会议、传播手术结果，并倡导在密歇根州开展与心胸外科相关的质量改进倡议的开发和实施。认识到 MSTCVS-QC 在推进质量改进方面的成功努力，欧洲心胸外科学会（EACTS）于 2018 年通过 EACTS 弗朗西斯·方丹基金（FFF）推出了一个研究员计划。该计划允许初级职业医生在安阿伯的 MSTCVS-QC 团队中度过 4-6 个月。本文通过介绍第一批 4 名 EACTS/FFF 研究员的经验，记录了 MSTCVS-QC 的发展和功能。我们的目标是强调在心胸外科领域培养质量改进和患者安全文化的重要性，并公开讨论经过审核的高质量数据点。这一原则虽然在当地实施，但具有超越欧洲的影响和价值，在全球范围内产生共鸣。
