Six Steps to Begin a Quality Improvement Collaborative

Quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) are increasingly used in graduate medical education to enhance clinical outcomes and meet educational objectives. While they offer potential benefits, such as driving systemic change and developing best practices, multi-institutional QI efforts face unique challenges, and no consolidated guidance exists to help faculty navigate them. Drawing on literature and personal experience, we outline six steps to help educators overcome hurdles associated with launching a QIC: (1) choose a goal aligned with organizational priorities; (2) recruit a multidisciplinary team; (3) craft a clear and generalizable aim statement; (4) select preexisting, nationally-recognized metrics; (5) navigate institutional review board requirements; and (6) plan meetings around key milestones. These steps will help medical educators anticipate common hurdles, secure administrative support, and foster effective collaboration across institutions. Personal illustrations accompany each step. By following this framework, educators can more confidently lead QICs to engage learners and improve patient care.