Sustainability refers to the ability of improvements to endure and remain effective over time. In the context of quality improvement initiatives, it is crucial to address the challenge of “improvement evaporation,” where gains achieved through initial efforts fade away. To increase the likelihood of sustained improvements, it is essential to consider key factors from the start. As organisations face financial constraints and strive to optimise resource utilisation, understanding the factors influencing sustainability has become strategically important.
Recommended resources:
- NHS Sustainability Model
Healthcare Improvement Scotland guide to Sustainability and spread
The THIS institute have a series of guides on the Elements of Improving Quality and Safety in Healthcare published through Cambridge University Press. Recommended guide for this topic is Approaches to Spread, Scale-Up, and Sustainability, by Chrysanthi Papoutsi, Trisha Greenhalgh, Sonja Marjanovic (2024).
