Department of Pediatrics

QI/QA Projects

Most projects conducted for the purposes of quality assurance or quality improvement (QA/QI) do not require IRB review.

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QI/QA Projects

Most projects conducted for the purposes of quality assurance or quality improvement (QA/QI) do not require IRB review.

Most projects conducted for the purposes of quality assurance or quality improvement (QA/QI) do not require IRB review. However, QI/QA projects which meet the definition of "research" and involve "human subjects," as defined in the federal regulations, require IRB review and oversight. 

To learn more, review Brown University Health's Quality Improvement Activities documentation.

Quality Improvement Activities

Is your project considered QI/QA or research? Review this worksheet to find out.

Quality Improvement or Research Worksheet

Your Own QI Project

(The following information is published on the American Board of Pediatrics)

Project Size 1-10 Physicians 10+ Physicians
Materials needed to complete your application:

Checklist for 1- 10 Physicians

Application Questions

Checklist for 10+ Physicians

Standards of Approval
QI Basics

ABP's Part 2 activity titled "A Journey of Improvement: Basics of QI" (login required) 

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Quality Improvement Essentials Toolkit 

ABP's QI Reference Guide 

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Quality Improvement Essentials Toolkit 
Examples of Approved Projects  
More Information Apply by December 1 in any given year to earn credit in a cycle that ends the same year.  Visit the QI Projects (More Than 10 Physicians) page 
All set to apply? Submit your completed project (login required) and $75 processing fee per project (credit card only).  Log in to ABP's online application and review system. 

SQUIRE

Standards for QUality Improvement Reporting Excellence

Writing is part of quality and safety work. Writing about and sharing your work is important because it:

  • Forces you to clarify your thinking, verify your observations, and justify your inferences.
  • Hastens the spread of important and useful innovations.
  • Reduces the waste scarce of resources in confirming findings that are already firmly established.
  • Makes it possible to confirm uncertain findings.
  • Keeps people from repeating mistakes unnecessarily.
  • Contributes to the "collective memory," which provides the context for interpreting new findings properly.
  • Returns something of value for the time, effort, inconvenience, and funds that people put into the work.
  • Holds you publicly accountable for your efforts. 

The SQUIRE Guidelines provide a framework for reporting new knowledge about how to improve healthcare. They are intended for reports that describe system level work to improve the quality, safety, and value of healthcare.

SQUIRE Guidelines

National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ)

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) has good resources for building a quality improvement project. They are a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing children's health. They are committed to building and managing effective change strategies that align partners and engage stakeholders to achieve better outcomes for children and their families.

NICHQ Website