IHHC opportunity for diplomates and residents who have achieved publication as an author or co-author of a peer-reviewed article on quality improvement, demonstrating the use of quality improvement principles and utilizing measurable outcomes within a clinical practice or hospital setting.

This initiative recognizes the value of scholarly contributions that advance patient care, safety, and operational excellence. Participants may be eligible to receive IHHC credit towards their current Continuing Certification (CC) cycle (or initial cycle for residents) if the publication date falls within the parameters of their current cycle. Textbook contributions will not be considered for IHHC credit. 

This form supports the application of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle to facilitate team-based, incremental improvements in health and healthcare. The designated primary submitter or group lead is responsible for identifying all project collaborators and ensuring the accuracy of all submitted information.

Some practice areas have integrated telemedicine as a routine component of care delivery. Advances in technology, evolving patient expectations, and changing regulatory frameworks continue to influence how telehealth is implemented and optimized in clinical practice. As a result, many physicians have adapted their workflows to better serve patients and families who face barriers to in person visits. Does this reflect changes you have made in your own practice? 

A clear problem statement should relate directly to your practice and identify a specific challenge to telehealth implementation or delivery. 

Examples might include:

• Telehealth infrastructure gaps: limited equipment, inadequate connectivity, or insufficient staff training 

• Visit cancellations due to language barriers: difficulty accessing interpreter services during virtual encounters 

• Low patient satisfaction with telehealth encounters: concerns about communication quality, technology usability, or visit effectiveness 

This project will guide you in identifying a problem you would like to address, assess your current state, implement a change, and measure the impact of that intervention.

Medical errors are a common and serious problem in health care. The FDA receives more than 100,000 reports per year of medication errors (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-information-consumers/working-reduce-medication-errors). In a widely cited 2016 Johns Hopkins study published in The BMJ, medical errors were the third highest leading cause of death in the nation. A medical error is a single event that should prompt a root cause analysis in order to prevent a recurrence. It also fulfills the intent of a IHHC (QI) project.
This project will help you apply the plan-do-study-act framework to a single medical event, measure its impact, implement a change to prevent future errors, and determine the results of the change you made.