Background: This tool can be used to identify sustainability issues in planning and implementing your improvement efforts.
How to use this tool: The Implementation Team leader (or individual designated by the leader) should complete this checklist.
Use this tool to ensure you have appropriate resources and strategies in place to sustain improvement efforts.
| Elements of Sustainability | Notes |
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| Identity (Goals) | |
| Is guiding vision clearly specified? | |
| Is change goal focused (not too encompassing) and actionable? | |
Is “sustainability goal” clarified (i.e., what will be sustained?) and at what level is this goal?
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| Problem solving: If vision and goals are not clearly specified, focused, and actionable, what strategies will be adopted to address this issue? | |
| Infrastructure | |
| Human resources | |
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| Technical resources | |
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| Financial resources | |
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| Problem solving: If key elements are lacking, has a strategy been developed to address this issue? | |
| Incentives | |
| Is project perceived to add “value” within the organization (i.e., people can see something in it for them)? | |
| Can value be measured quantitatively (i.e., decrease in injurious fall rate or maintenance of low injurious fall rate)? | |
| Are other intangible values/incentives perceived (e.g., improved reputation, pride, sense of accomplishment)? Describe. | |
| Is the project perceived as having disincentives? Describe. | |
| Problem solving: If positive incentives are inadequate or disincentives are identified, have strategies been proposed to address this issue? | |
| Incremental Opportunities for Participation | |
| Can the project goals be best achieved with varied levels and types of participation? If yes, then continue to next two questions. |
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| Are there opportunities for varied geographic participation (e.g., among units within a hospital; among hospitals within a consortium; participation in regional vs. national initiative)? | |
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| Are varied roles for participation in the project provided? If yes, what varied roles for participation are provided? |
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| Problem solving: If goals can be achieved with varied levels and types of participation but no provision has been made for participation in different ways, what strategies can be used to address this issue? | |
| Integration | |
| Are change goals aligned with strategic goals of participating entities (macro level)? | |
| Are change goals integrated with other performance measures and reward systems of participating entities (macro level)? | |
| Are change goals integrated with existing programs, policies/procedures, and information systems of participating entities (micro level)? | |
| Problem solving: If change goals are not aligned and integrated with the strategic goals, performance measures, reward systems, programs, policies/procedures, and information systems of participating entities, what strategies can be used to address this issue? |
