Development of a Government Continuous Quality Improvement Procedure for Assessing the Provision of Bone Anchored Limb Prosthesis: A Process Re-design Descriptive Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidences of sustainable clinical benefits of bone-anchored prosthesis (BAP) using osseointegrated fixation over typical socket-suspended prostheses are becoming more probing. This influx of individuals to be fitted with BAP has pressed government organisations to adjust their policies. However, the appraisal of consumer’s experience for the provision of BAP founded by government organisation is yet to be developed. This descriptive study shares the experience gained by a government organisation, namely the Queensland Artificial Limb Service (QALS), while developing a specific BAP-inclusive continuous quality improvement (CQI) procedure. OBJECTIVE(S): The primary objective was to present the methods and outcomes of key steps required to plan and create this CQI procedure. The secondary objective was to highlight key barriers and facilitators of the transition from a socket-focused to the proposed BAP-inclusive CQI procedure. METHODOLOGY: The re-design process of the CQI procedure for 65 current QALS’s consumers with BAP involved a two-step process for the planning (e.g., case-mix, stakeholder) and creation (e.g., diagnosis, technical options, cost). FINDINGS: Prosthetists labour toward CQI procedure represented 1.3 hrs out of 22 hrs and AUD$213 out of AUD$3,300 or 6% of the whole procedure for the provision of BAP. The time spent by a prosthetist, consumer and QALS staff represented 24%, 24% and 53% of the time of the CQI procedure, respectively. The cost of prosthetist and QALS staff labour represented 70% and 30% of the CQI procedure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive study shares the workings and methodology that government organisations, such as QALS, can use to re-design a CQI procedure for comprehensive appraisal of the provision of prosthesis that could be inclusive of BAP and affordable while minimally time-consuming for prosthetists. The transition from a socket-focused to the proposed minimally disruptive BAP-inclusive CQI procedure was facilitated by prior knowledge of BAP treatment, early identification of the stakeholders and adaptation of current CQI procedure.