Quality improvement collaboratives (QIC) are widely used for seeking improvements in healthcare quality and safety. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of QICs is variable. In order to support research that identifies critical elements in running a successful collaborative, we fill a conceptual gap by moving towards a functional model of QICs. Specifically, we define how QICs are distinct from traditional quality improvement teams, conceptualize how primary and secondary functions are accomplished in a means-ends framework, and illustrate how the functions are dynamically accomplished in a series of meetings by nested teams within a collaborative. Finally, we discuss distinctions among QICs.
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