PDSA CYCLE TEMPLATE

MODEL FOR IMPROVEMENT: Three Questions for Improvement
What are we trying to accomplish?
Describe the problem / issue.
How will we know that change is an improvement?
Describe measurable outcome or outcomes you'd like to see.
What change can we make that will result in an improvement?
Describe processes as they now exist; identify opportunities for improvement.

PLAN
Plan your test and describe your plan for collecting data.
What change are you testing?
What do you predict will happen? Why?
Provide details on the test: Who will be involved, what resources are needed, what should be the time periods for the test, what are the details on action steps needed, and who is responsible for each.
Provide details on what data will be collected and how.

DO
Run your test on a small scale
Describe what happens when you execute the test, including problems and unexpected results.
Collect appropriate data.

STUDY
Analyze results you measured, compare to predictions
Study and analyze the data.
Determine if change resulted in outcomes you expected.
Were there surprises or unintended outcomes?
Summarize what you learned.

ACT
Decide what modifications you should make – either: • Adapt – modify changes and repeat the PDSA cycle. • Adopt – if change brought positive results, consider expanding more broadly in your organization. • Abandon – change your approach entirely and execute a new PDSA cycle.
What did you conclude? Plan your next step.

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