Liliana Bell, MHA, PMP What is The IHI Model for Improvement?
Embarking on a quality improvement project without a clear plan can feel like setting out on a trip without a map. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement provides that essential map. It is a simple yet powerful framework that helps teams structure their thinking, focus their efforts and move from a general problem to a specific, actionable plan. The model is built on three fundamental questions that guide the entire planning process before any changes are tested.
These questions are:
- What are we trying to accomplish?
- How will we know that a change is an improvement? and
- What changes can we make that will result in improvement?
Answering the first question helps your team define a clear, concise and measurable aim—often in the form of a SMART goal. The second question pushes your team to identify the specific data and metrics you will use to track progress. The third question prompts a creative and systematic process of brainstorming and prioritizing interventions that will address the root causes of the problem.
By working through these questions, your team creates a project charter. This document serves as your shared roadmap, detailing your aim, measures and planned changes. It ensures everyone is aligned and provides a solid foundation before you begin testing your ideas on a small scale using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.
Resources
The resources below break down the IHI Model for Improvement into manageable parts. From understanding the core framework to diving deep into each of the three guiding questions, these videos and guides provide the practical knowledge you need to develop a comprehensive project charter and set your team up for success.
Introduction to the IHI Model Questions
Learn about the IHI Model for Improvement and its three fundamental questions that provide a roadmap for any QI project. This video explains how the model helps teams define their aim, measures and change ideas before beginning PDSA cycles.
Model for Improvement Question 1: What are you trying to accomplish?
Explore a deep dive into the first question of the IHI Model: “What are you trying to accomplish?” This guide walks through five key steps, from identifying the problem to defining your project scope and crafting a powerful SMART aim statement to guide your team.
Model for Improvement Question 2: How will you know if a change is an improvement?
Learn how to answer the second question: “How will you know a change is an improvement?” This video explains the importance of measurement and covers how to select an outcome, process and balancing measures, establish a baseline and plan your data collection.
Model for Improvement Question 3: What Changes Can You Make That Will Result in Improvement?
Discover how to answer the third question: “What changes can you make that will result in improvement?” Explore techniques for analyzing root causes, brainstorming change ideas, prioritizing your efforts and identifying potential barriers to success.
Concluding the Model for Improvement Questions: The Importance of a Project Charter
Understand how the answers to the three IHI Model questions come together to form a comprehensive project charter. This video explains why the charter is a critical roadmap that aligns your team before you begin testing changes with PDSA cycles.
Download the Project Charter Template
Use this fillable template to create a comprehensive project charter for your QI project. It provides a structured format to document all essential components, including:
- Project background and problem statement
- Goals and objectives
- In-scope and out-of-scope items
- Key stakeholders and team roles