A critical marker of a sustainable QI program is the widespread integration of QI principles and tools into the routine work of planning, leading and delivering health care in the participating country. To reach the point of QI integration, a critical mass of individuals who can implement QI work is essential to achieve in-country capacity for QM. 

 

Coaching and mentoring are distinct from training, education, teaching, facilitating, advising, and advocating.

 

HQ focuses particularly on these 2 capacity development strategies because of their critical role in integrating QI into the fabric of organizational structures and functions. Training and teaching are necessary steps for understanding concepts and acquiring skills, but implementation can only occur when organizations are supported in using and adapting newly acquired knowledge into routine work. 

 

Coaching focuses on organizational performance at the national, regional and clinic levels. Coaching at different levels may occur simultaneously depending on the implementation plan. 

 

• National level: coaching is directed to supporting implementation and expansion decisions such as indicator prioritization, data analysis, QM planning and the speed and scope of expansion. 

• Regional level: Individual regional coaches are identified and provided coaches training to help improve the quality and effectiveness of QM activities at the local level. 

• Clinic level: coaching is directed to clinic level staff and QI teams to adapt the general concepts of measurement and improvement to their unique situations and needs. 

 

Mentoring is a strategy utilized primarily to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence of the core in-country implementing team. Mentoring can be seen as a transfusion of experience that in-country staff can draw from as they build their own stores of approaches and solutions.