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What Program Is Right for You?

MNPQC offers four distinct program models designed to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Models vary in participation expectations, program duration, and program benefits, helping teams and individuals find the right fit for their goals and capacity.

Initiative

Hospital/Birthing Center-Led Teams Only

Long-term, comprehensive quality improvement education program designed to support sustained practice change, culture change, and measurable outcomes across multiple drivers.

Program Overview

Program Duration: Approximately 12 months

During each Initiative, MNPQC hosts monthly virtual Action Period Calls (APCs) that bring together participating hospital/birthing center-led teams from across the state. Teams include clinical staff (e.g., providers, midwives, and nurses) and may also incorporate partners such as social workers and public health professionals who support continuity of care.

Guided by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) quality improvement framework and the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health’s (AIM) patient safety bundles, a collection of evidence-informed best practices, these calls focus on shared learning and include:

  • Didactic presentations from subject matter experts
  • Team sharing of PDSA cycles and lessons learned
  • Ongoing quality improvement support and guidance

Outside of the monthly APCs, MNPQC’s Quality Improvement Team provides individualized feedback on data submissions and PDSA cycles, partners with teams to work through barriers, and offers ongoing technical assistance as needed.

Following completion of the Initiative, teams participate in one follow-up maintenance call focused on reviewing progress and supporting sustainability.

Participant Expectations

Throughout the duration of the program, participating hospital teams are expected to: 

  • Attend monthly virtual Action Period Calls
  • Submit monthly PDSA documentation
  • Complete monthly data submissions on project measures (number of measures varies by program)
  • Complete a monthly status report
  • Complete pre- and post-program surveys

PROGRAM BENEFITS

Participating in an MNPQC Initiative includes the following benefits:

  • One-on-one technical assistance from quality improvement professionals
  • Opportunities for networking and cross-collaboration with other facilities and subject matter experts
  • Access to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) quality improvement methodology and trainings
  • An MNPQC Hospital Designation after successful completion of the program, including a banner of excellence, program-specific physical and virtual badges, and certificates of completion
  • Aggregate and individual data reports to support ongoing improvement
  • Fulfillment of the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting requirement for the Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure

Community of Learning

Hospital/Birthing Center-Led Teams Only

Focused, mid-length quality improvement education program designed to support shared learning and targeted implementation around a specific topic area or subset of an AIM patient safety bundle.

Program Overview

Program Duration: 3-9 Months

During each Community of Learning, MNPQC hosts monthly virtual Action Period Calls (APCs) that bring together participating hospital/birthing center-led teams from across the state. Teams include clinical staff (e.g., providers, midwives, and nurses) and may also incorporate partners such as social workers and public health professionals who support continuity of care.

Guided by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) quality improvement framework and the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health’s (AIM) patient safety bundles, a collection of evidence-informed best practices, these calls focus on shared learning and include:

  • Didactic presentations from subject matter experts
  • Team sharing of PDSA cycles and lessons learned
  • Ongoing quality improvement support and guidance

Outside of the monthly APCs, MNPQC’s Quality Improvement Team provides individualized feedback on data submissions and PDSA cycles, partners with teams to work through barriers, and offers ongoing technical assistance as needed.

Following completion of the Community of Learning, teams participate in one follow-up maintenance call focused on reviewing progress and supporting sustainability.

Participant Expectations

Throughout the duration of the program, participating hospital teams are expected to: 

  • Attend monthly virtual Action Period Calls
  • Submit monthly PDSA documentation
  • Complete monthly data submissions on project measures (number of measures varies by program)
  • Complete a monthly status report
  • Complete pre- and post-program surveys

Program Benefits

Participating in an MNPQC Community of Learning includes the following benefits:

  • One-on-one technical assistance from quality improvement professionals
  • Opportunities for networking and cross-collaboration with other facilities and subject matter experts
  • Access to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) quality improvement methodology and trainings
  • An MNPQC Hospital Designation after successful completion of the program, including a banner of excellence, program-specific physical and virtual badges, and certificates of completion
  • Aggregate and individual data reports to support ongoing improvement
  • Fulfillment of the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting requirement for the Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure

SPRINT

Open to All Participants

Short, intensive perinatal education program focused on a specific change idea, topic, or practice, with an emphasis on immediate application.

Program Overview

Program Duration: 3-8 Weeks/Sessions

During each Sprint, MNPQC hosts weekly/bi-weekly virtual sessions on a defined topic or focus. Participants may include anyone with an interest in the topic area, regardless of role, discipline, or organizational readiness.

Participant Expectations

Throughout the program, participants complete pre- and post-surveys to assess changes in knowledge. Otherwise, there are minimal documentation or reporting requirements.

Program Benefits

Participating in an MNPQC Sprint includes the following benefits:

  • Networking and cross-collaboration with other organizations and subject matter experts
  • Sharing of educational materials and resources 
  • An introduction to emerging topics relevant to the perinatal space
  • Certificates of completion

ECHO

Open to All Participants

A low-barrier learning environment designed to increase knowledge and shared understanding of a topic while supporting relationship-building, discussion, and the exchange of best practices across disciplines and care settings.

Program Overview

Program Duration: Varies

During each ECHO, MNPQC hosts a series of virtual sessions delivered using the Project ECHO platform. Each session follows the ECHO model of “all teach, all learn” and typically includes brief didactic content, case examples or experience sharing, facilitated discussion, and peer learning across clinical, public health, and community perspectives.
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Participant Expectations

Participation is flexible, and attendees may join one or multiple sessions based on interest. Each session will include a brief evaluation at the end.

Program Benefits

Participating in an MNPQC ECHO includes the following benefits:

  • Networking and cross-collaboration with other organizations and subject matter experts
  • Sharing of educational materials and resources 
  • An introduction to emerging topics relevant to the perinatal space
  • Certificates of completion
What is ProJect ECHO?

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a virtual model that supports shared learning and collaboration across diverse care settings. In our perinatal work, the ECHO structure allows us to extend education beyond traditional quality improvement programs and reach a broader, multidisciplinary audience involved in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. 

Compare Program Models

Model


  • Initiative
  • COLs
  • Sprint
  • ECHO

Duration


  • 12 Months
  • 3-9 Months
  • 3-8 Weeks
  • Varies

Participants


  • Hospital Teams
  • Hospital Teams
  • Open to All
  • Open to All

Reporting


  • Monthly Submissions
  • Monthly Submissions
  • None/Minimal
  • None

Not sure where to start?

Our Quality Improvement Team is here to help you identify the program model that best fits your goals, capacity, and readiness. Contact us to discuss your interests, ask questions, or explore upcoming opportunities