1. PLAN: Identify an Opportunity and Plan for Improvement Step One : Getting Started – Identify area, problem or opportunity – Estimate and secure resources – Obtain approval to conduct QI Step Two: Assemble QI Team – Identify/assemble team members – Discuss problem/opportunity – Identify roles and responsibility – Establish timeline – Develop SMART aim statement Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition

2. PLAN: Identify an Opportunity and Plan for Improvement Step Three: Examine the Current Approach – Examine current approach or process flow – Obtain existing baseline data or collect data – Obtain customer/stakeholder input – Analyze baseline/collected data – Determine root cause(s) – Revise aim statement Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition

3. PLAN : Identify an Opportunity and Plan for Improvement Step Four : Identify Potential Solutions – Identify potential solutions – Review model or best practices to identify potential improvements – Pick the best solution Step Five: Develop an Improvement Theory – Develop a theory for improvement – Develop a strategy to test the theory Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition

4. DO: Test the Theory for Improvement Step Six: Test the Theory – Carry out the test on a small scale – Collect, chart, and display data to determine effectiveness of the test – Document problems, unexpected observations and unintended side effects. Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition

5. STUDY: Use Data to Study Results of the Test Step Seven: Study the Results – Determine if test was successful – Describe and report what you learned. Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition

6. ACT: Standardize the Improvement and Establish Future Plans Step Eight: Standardize the Improvement or Develop a New Theory – Test successful test result on a wider scale – Develop a new theory and test it Step Nine : Establish Future Plans – Celebrate success – Communicate accomplishment – Preserve your gains/sustain accomplishment – Make long term plans for additional improvements – Repeat PDSA cycle, when needed Adopted from Embracing Quality in Public Health, 2nd Edition