A continuing quality improvement (CQI) approach to improving the results of treatment in intussusception.

There is little incentive to change existing protocols or clinical practices of medical conditions in which the results of treatment are considered already to be satisfactory. Our approach to continuing quality improvement (CQI) demands that, even in these conditions, attempts should be made to improve performance further. This report shows how the management of childhood intussusception has been refined at our institution, producing a measurable reduction in the operation rate and thus reducing the overall morbidity to the child. At each step, audit was followed by an intervention, the effect of which was documented. It is our belief that this approach can be applied to any number of medical conditions, and it is a responsibility of CQI personnel to encourage such processes.