QI 102: HOW TO IMPROVE WITH THE MODEL FOR
IMPROVEMENT
The Model for Improvement begins with three questions designed to clarify the following
concepts: - Answers- Aims, measures, changes
Applying the Model for Improvement to the clinic's improvement goal, which of the
following is the most reasonable aim statement? - Answers- Increase the number of
patients reporting they are "very satisfied" with the clinic's scheduling by 50 percent
within six months.
What is the team's next step? - Answers- Test their change plan using the PDSA cycle.
An aim statement should include the following: - Answers- Numeric goals, specific time
frame, patient population or system affected
Which of the following is the most effective aim statement for this project? - Answers-
Within three months, the emergency department will administer all pain medications
within 45 minutes of order time.
The charge nurse in the emergency room asks Brenda to assemble a team to improve
the delivery of pain medication. As she considers who to place on the team, Brenda
should: - Answers- Review the aim statement to make sure the team includes
representatives of all processes affected by the team's aim.
During Brenda's first group meeting, the members ask to review the aim statement to
make sure they agree it addresses the current problem. With Brenda's approval, they all
decide to rewrite it. However, when they meet to consider what would be a better aim
statement, the group loses direction. In order to help them, Brenda might want to: -
Answers- Remind the team of the Institute of Medicine's dimensions of health care
quality.
What would you identify as the outcome measure for the project? - Answers- Percent of
patients that are readmitted to the hospital
Which of the following is an example of a process measure that you may collect as part
of this improvement effort? - Answers- The percent of patients receiving a call within 48
hours of discharge
Why might you consider collecting balancing measures? - Answers- To make sure you
did not unintentionally damage other aspects of the unit's work
What else should you add to the graph to best explain the work your unit has done? -
Answers- Annotations to show when specific changes were tested
IMPROVEMENT
The Model for Improvement begins with three questions designed to clarify the following
concepts: - Answers- Aims, measures, changes
Applying the Model for Improvement to the clinic's improvement goal, which of the
following is the most reasonable aim statement? - Answers- Increase the number of
patients reporting they are "very satisfied" with the clinic's scheduling by 50 percent
within six months.
What is the team's next step? - Answers- Test their change plan using the PDSA cycle.
An aim statement should include the following: - Answers- Numeric goals, specific time
frame, patient population or system affected
Which of the following is the most effective aim statement for this project? - Answers-
Within three months, the emergency department will administer all pain medications
within 45 minutes of order time.
The charge nurse in the emergency room asks Brenda to assemble a team to improve
the delivery of pain medication. As she considers who to place on the team, Brenda
should: - Answers- Review the aim statement to make sure the team includes
representatives of all processes affected by the team's aim.
During Brenda's first group meeting, the members ask to review the aim statement to
make sure they agree it addresses the current problem. With Brenda's approval, they all
decide to rewrite it. However, when they meet to consider what would be a better aim
statement, the group loses direction. In order to help them, Brenda might want to: -
Answers- Remind the team of the Institute of Medicine's dimensions of health care
quality.
What would you identify as the outcome measure for the project? - Answers- Percent of
patients that are readmitted to the hospital
Which of the following is an example of a process measure that you may collect as part
of this improvement effort? - Answers- The percent of patients receiving a call within 48
hours of discharge
Why might you consider collecting balancing measures? - Answers- To make sure you
did not unintentionally damage other aspects of the unit's work
What else should you add to the graph to best explain the work your unit has done? -
Answers- Annotations to show when specific changes were tested
