Breakthrough
Collaborative Action
Heart Healthy Waukesha
County is based on a theoretical framework known as the “Breakthrough
Collaborative” model. As adapted by Heart Healthy Waukesha
County, this education-and-action framework focuses on increasing
the use of evidence-based interventions at the organizational
level in order to improve individual behaviors related to nutrition,
exercise, and smoking cessation.
Pilot Collaborative
From
September 2003 – June 2004, HHWC conducted a pilot collaborative
during which nine community action teams involving more than 20
county organizations completed yearlong health improvement initiatives.
Together, they affected the daily health decisions of more than
7,000 people by changing menus, distributing health information,
conducting health assessments, and developing and/or conducting
employee fitness programs and smoking cessation programs. Their work was featured in a July
2004 article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and
in the “2003-04 Report to
Supporters” and Pilot Collaborative
Video.
What is a Breakthrough
Collaborative?
Also known as “learning
collaboratives” or “rapid improvement projects” Breakthrough
Collaboratives typically involve numerous small teams — representing
a variety of organizational and/or community perspectives — all
tackling similar multi-faceted issues. Collaborative members learn
about best practices in wellness promotion, test changes on a small
scale in their own health improvement projects and learn what works
to help people within their sphere of influence make better decisions
about exercise, nutrition and smoking. Collaborative members share
their results with each other and repeat the cycle.
Why did the Health
Council choose this model?
Since
their introduction by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
(IHI), Breakthrough Collaboratives have produced dramatic results
in the healthcare industry, where they are seen as a proven method
to:
- Jumpstart productive
action
- Produce “breakthrough”
results
- Reduce implementation
failures
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