Author(s): David Fisher, RN
Quality Consultant - Veterans Health Affairs
I have been working in Healthcare Quality with the VA for the past 13 years and have over 40 years as an RN. In 2021 I was asked to help lead development of a standardized VA Quality Professionals Orientation. This orientation was developed for Quality Professionals in VA hospitals who had been in their role less than 2-years. Initially focused on Quality Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs the orientation eventually expanded to include anyone working in the Quality Department who was new to their role 2-years or less. Customer Feedback regarding the orientation has been very positive and the program has been revised over the last few years to reflect customer needs. I continue to manage and host this virtual orientation which has been attended by more than 300 VA employees.

Sai Shruthi Musunuri, MS
National Quality Management Advisor - US Department of Veterans Affairs
Shruthi Musunuri is a National Advisor at the Office of Quality Management (OQM) at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). She manages large-scale national priorities collaborating with leaders from program offices & 152 VA Medical Centers enterprise-wide. In her work of 12 years at VA, she was responsible for development, deployment, and guidance of key initiatives contributing to healthcare delivery systems and improvements in quality outcomes. She has contributed extensively in developing & deploying Yellow, Green, Black Belts lean six sigma trainings & certification standards across VHA. Prior to VA, her experiences include working in Europe as Biomedical Engineer. Ms. Musunuri earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, both from Purdue University. She is Black Belt Lean & Six Sigma certified; Prosci Change Management certified & leadership certifications including Strategic Business Process Management from MIT, Demystifying Leadership Decisions from Stanford University.

Heather Carreiro, MSN, MHA, RN
Director External Accreditation Services and Programs (17QM1), Office of Quality and Patient Safety, VACO

Competency Domain: Professional Engagement

Description: This session will describe development and implementation of a National Quality Professionals Orientation (QPO) for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The QPO was designed by the National Office of Quality Management (OQM) collaboratively with representatives from VA Hospitals and Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The content was developed utilizing principles including process improvement and change management. The QPO has been attended by over 400 Department of Veterans Health Administration quality leaders from 152 VA Medical Centers over the last 3-years and has become an integral part of preparing new Quality Professionals to serve our nations Veterans.Problem:Not having a standardized training for Quality Professionals in the field created several gaps in execution of roles, communication, and clarification of processes.Measurement:BOSCARD needs assessment, Voice of the Customer and Data AnalysisAnalysis:Analyzed the post interventional data against baseline data using Power BI, Excel, and MS Forms. Used data sampling, trends to develop insight for process/program improvements.Implementation:Implemented a standardized, comprehensive, holistic Quality Professionals Orientation. Some of the obstacles included developing an orientation in a virtual environment, decisions on topics for a multi-disciplinary group of attendees and coordination between 152 different facilities. Provides education on creating a framework for large-scale enterprise-wide orientation development and implementation.Results/DiscussionOver 400 Quality Professionals have been trained to a standardized quality model across VA Facilities. BOSCARD, Voice of the Customer and Statistical Analysis. Continuing standard work, incorporating improvements based on customer feedback and providing a platform for direct communication and questions.

Evaluation: Complete Poster Evaluation