Introduction

This topic explores the fundamentals of quality improvement (QI) for a target audience of surgical trainees and surgeons. Specifically, content has been authored by pediatric surgeons and the illustrations tailored to children’s surgical care. While not all encompassing, we begin with a summary of QI basics, design and strategies including definition of key terms and principles needed to understand and start the QI process. Nuances of QI are addressed including the fundamental need to reduce variation, the critical role of individual leadership, institutional effort, multicenter collaboration and the delicate incorporation of surgical innovation. Current research efforts and the future directions of QI are noted.

Ultimately, the objective is to provide a primer for pediatric surgeons so that they may begin participating in local QI efforts in order to provide our patients with safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient and equitable care [1].