QI Made Easy
Guides and tools to deliver QI in your service
Quality improvement training is essential in imbedding a safety culture where QI is integral to our daily work. Access to readily accessible, clinically relevant and user friendly QI training can be challenging. Our “QI Made Easy” series helps to build QI knowledge and understanding for all staff in your department. We have developed a number of guides on the most useful QI topics and tools, helping to simplify the complex terminology to best help deliver QI in your service.
This online learning resource will support delivery of quality improvement in your unit and aligns with our NSQIs on Training for Quality and Patient Safety.
There are the five phases of quality improvement:
Phase 1: Define the problem
The first step of QI is identifying your area for improvement. A variety of QI tools can provide a structured approach to investigating and analysing your current practice. They allow you to scrutinize your systems and processes and identify areas most in need of improvement.
- Where to Start
- Forcefield analysis
- Fishbone diagram
- Pareto charts
- Process mapping
- Case reviews & patient stories
Phase 2 Develop a shared purpose
QI is completely dependent on team work. An essential part of the process is creating a group of enthusiasts who share your vision and will be able actively carry out, support and champion your improvement work.
Phase 3 Plan and Implement Change
After defining your problem and building your team, you can use QI tools to develop your change plans and map your journey of improvement.
Phase 4: Test and Measure Improvement
All improvement work requires change. However, not all change leads to improvement. It is therefore essential to monitor the impact of any changes you make. There are a number of QI tools that help you to record, display and analyse your data to help drive QI.
Phase 5: Implement, embed and sustain
Once a change idea’s effectiveness has been established, it should be fully integrated into normal practice. Teams should continue to build on their success and spread best practice and knowledge across different teams and departments.
