Meet Kayla Drolc – Quality Consultant, ACHS Improvement Academy

Welcome to our Staff Spotlight where we introduce our great team who work tirelessly to support ACHS Members and the broader healthcare community.

In this edition, we learn more about Kayla Drolc who recently joined the team at the ACHS Improvement Academy, further supporting their work to strengthen quality improvement and patient care. 
 

Can you tell us about your career journey to date and what drew you to join ACHS as a Quality Consultant?  

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for working with and supporting people. I have spent more than 10 years in client services, progressing into leadership roles where I supported teams, managed day to day operations and worked with a wide range of customers.  

In more recent years moving into healthcare accreditation brought these skills together in a new and meaningful way. As a Client Liaison Officer, I supported a diverse range of healthcare organisations on accreditation journeys. 

That experience strengthened my interest in healthcare quality and continuous improvement. What drew me to ACHS was the opportunity to build on that foundation while contributing from a different perspective through consulting. I enjoy bringing people and processes together, understanding what an organisation needs and coordinating the right support. The role brings together what I enjoy most – building relationships, bringing people and processes together, and contributing to work that supports better healthcare. 

You've worked with organisations across hospitals, dental practices and correctional health services. How have these experiences shaped your understanding of quality improvement and patient safety? 

Working with hospitals, dental practices and correctional health services has shown me that while the settings may be very different, the commitment to safe, quality care is shared. Each organisation has its own challenges, resources and patient needs, so improvement needs to be practical and suited to the people delivering and receiving care. 

Through supporting these organisations, I’ve seen how clear communication, strong processes and teamwork contribute to patient safety. It has also helped me appreciate that quality improvement is an ongoing commitment,—listening to feedback, learning from what happens and making changes that become part of everyday practice. 

These experiences have encouraged me to stay curious, ask questions and understand an organisation’s circumstances before making assumptions about the support it needs. 
 

Quality improvement can feel like a big undertaking. What do you think helps make the process more manageable for healthcare teams? 

I think it starts with going back to basics and recognising what teams are already doing well. Quality Improvement can feel overwhelming, but many organisations already have good practices embedded into their everyday work. Sometimes it's about making those practices more consistent, recognising where there are gaps and building on that foundation.  

Breaking the process into smaller, achievable steps also helps. Involving the people doing the work, setting clear priorities and celebrating progress can make improvement feel more manageable and part of everyday care.   
 

If you could help healthcare organisations better understand one aspect of quality and patient safety, what would it be and why?  

Once aspect I’d highlight is the importance of understanding why a process is in place and how it contributes to safer care. When teams can see that connection, quality improvement becomes more meaningful and easier to put into practice.  

In a consulting context, this means helping organisations connect the standards to their everyday work, so teams feel confident applying improvements and understand the difference those changes can make for patients.  
 

What are you most looking forward to in your role at ACHS? 

I’m most excited about supporting organisations, both large and small, throughout their consulting journey to achieve their goals and improve the care they provide. I enjoy building relationships and bringing the right people together, so connecting organisations with consultants who understand their needs is a part of the role I’m particularly looking forward to.
  

What sets ACHS Consulting apart from other consulting services in the healthcare space?        

For me, what sets ACHS Consulting apart is our commitment to championing healthcare quality and patient safety, supported by the high calibre of its experienced consultants. They bring a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise, working alongside organisations to understand their challenges and provide tailored support to meet clients needs. This collaborative approach helps organisations build confidence and make lasting improvements. 

Thank you, Kayla, for sharing your insights and experience with us. We look forward to bringing you further Staff Spotlight articles in the future and showcasing the incredible talent that we foster at ACHS.