What is NSQIP?

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) is being implemented by 24 sites across BC, as the key measurement tool to improve surgical quality.

Developed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, this comprehensive surgical database and quality improvement program provides actionable data, with which to drive improvement, and show where to focus our energy.

ACS NSQIP is highly regarded due to its rigor in statistical risk adjustment of outcomes, and reliance on clinical data from chart reviews. The program uses a peer-controlled, validated database to measure pre-operative risk factors, intra operative variables and 30 day post-operative outcomes. This information helps organizations measure and understand their own outcomes, and validly compare their outcomes to benchmarks with other participating sites.

In 2006, three sites from Fraser Health were the first facilities in BC to join the more than 380 hospitals enrolled in ACS NSQIP. Currently there are other sites outside of BC participating, including Jewish General Hospital, in Montreal, and the Ottawa Health Sciences Centre. Many other sites are currently exploring the implementation of ACS NSQIP.

BC Gets Involved!

To facilitate quick adoption and implementation of the program and to maximize potential benefits, 24 BC sites (21 new and 3 established sites) have joined together to form the Surgical Quality Action Network (SQAN).

Funded by the provincial Health Services Purchasing Organization (HSPO), this network of sites is supported by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, with a dedicated team to support collaboration and networking. SQAN will provide a sharing forum for both NSQIP and non NSQIP sites.

The SQAN will collaborate to brainstorm potential issues and solutions for quality of care issues, identify top performers within and outside the province, and share best practice strategies for improving quality of care.

Inspiring Quality
American College of Surgeons