Developing priorities for quality improvement in acute medicine using a modified Delphi method A consensus process hosted by the Society for Acute Medicine Quality Improvement Committee (SAM-QI)
Authors:   MBBS BSc MSc MRCP Consultant Physician Tauranga Hospital, Private Bag 12024 Bay of Plenty District Health Board New Zealand, Kennedy Adrian , Holland Mark ,   Holland, Sullivan Paul ,   CLAHRC, Imperial College, London, UK, Gebril Adnan ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Salford Royal, Manchester, M6 8HD, Arora Niam ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Watford General Hospital Vicarage Rd, Watford WD18 0HB, Vijayakumar Vishnu ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust, TQ2 7AA, Hoole Alice ,   Department of Acute Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, Nickel Christian ,   Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Hodcroft Chris ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Ynysmaerdy, Pontyclun CF72 8XR, Harrington Laura ,   MBChB, MRCP, Specialty Registrar (ST3) Acute Internal Medicine/General Internal Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Wheble Michael ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW, Soong John ,   Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Scriven Nicholas ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Calderdale Hospital, Dryclough Ln, Halifax HX3 0NH, Kellett John ,   Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of South West Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark, Slinger Kelham ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Castle Lane East , Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7DW, Price Vicky ,   Department of Acute Medicine, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Prescot St, Liverpool L7 8XP, Alsma Jelma ,   Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Astbury Susan ,   Society for Acute Medicine, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JQ, Varia Rajit ,   Department of Acute Medicine, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Prescot, L35 5DR, Rigby Anna ,   Senior Service Improvement Manager, St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Subbe Chris ,   School of Medical Sciences, Bangor University & Consultant Acute, Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, LL57 2PW, UK. ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3110-8888
Published: June 2022

Introduction: The SAM Quality Improvement Committee (SAM-QI), set up in 2016, has worked over the last year to determine the priority Acute Medicine QI topics. They have also discussed and put forward proposals to improve QI training for Acute Medicine professionals. Methods: A modified Delphi process was completed over four rounds to determine priority QI topics. Online meetings were also used to develop proposals for QI training. Results: Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) was chosen as the priority topic for QI work within Acute Medicine. Conclusion: The SAM-QI group settled on SDEC being the priority topic for Acute Medicine QI development. Throughout the Delphi process SAM-QI has also developed proposals for QI training that will help Acute Medicine professionals deliver coordinated meaningful improvements in care.