QPSi Knowledgebase

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Distinguishing Between Quality Improvement and Research Differentiating between Quality Improvement (QI) and research can be challenging, as both disciplines often use similar systematic methods to collect and analyze data. However, understanding the distinction is crucial for determining the appropriate oversight, methodology, and ethical considerations for a project. Misclassifying a project can lead to confusion about...

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) provides powerful tools for exploring clinical data and implementing quality improvement solutions, enabling clinicians to enhance patient care while upholding key ethical responsibilities.

What is a Run Chart? In quality improvement, it’s essential to know if the changes you’re making are actually leading to improvement. A run chart is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you do just that. It is a line graph that plots data points over time, providing a dynamic view of performance rather...

A Framework for Structured Improvement In any effort to enhance patient care or optimize clinical workflows, having a reliable method for implementing change is essential. The PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle provides a simple yet powerful scientific framework for testing improvement ideas on a small scale before implementing them widely. By breaking the improvement process down into...

Shifting from Volume to Value For decades, the American healthcare system operated on a fee-for-service model that compensated providers for the quantity of services delivered. This approach has led to escalating costs without a corresponding improvement in patient health, creating a system that rewards activity over effectiveness. The result is higher spending for poorer outcomes...

What is a Fishbone Diagram? The cause and effect diagram, also known as a Fishbone or Ishikawa diagram, is a visual tool used to explore the potential causes of a specific problem. By organizing ideas into logical categories, it helps teams move beyond obvious symptoms to find the underlying factors contributing to an adverse event...

Why Engagement Matters Involving patients and partners in quality improvement and implementation science studies brings invaluable perspectives and expertise to the table. By incorporating their lived experiences, you can identify topics, interventions, and health outcomes that truly matter to the people you serve, ensuring your efforts are both relevant and useful. This page explains how...

What is Value Stream Mapping? Have you ever felt that your team is working incredibly hard, but the system itself creates delays and frustration? Value stream mapping is a powerful tool for diagnosing this exact problem. It visualizes the entire flow of a process—like a patient’s journey through the emergency department—making the invisible work visible....