The terminology used when we talk about Quality Improvement can seem overwhelming, however here is a helpful jargon buster to assist you.
Improvement aim/ Project aim:
An improvement aim (aka project aim) is a goal a QI project team would like to reach at the end of their project. This aim can be anything e.g. reducing the number of falls on a ward by 50% by next year.
Improvement Journey:
An improvement journey is the time a QI project spends on achieving their improvement aim.
PDSA Cycles:
PDSA stands for Plan, do, study and act. A QI project team will devise PDSA cycles to try out ideas in real work settings which they think will help reach their improvement aim.
QI:
QI is an acronym, it stands for Quality Improvement.
Improvement Team/ Project Team:
An improvement team is a term used to describe a group of patients, carers and staff that undertake a QI project.
Measures:
Measures are used to determine if a specific change leads to an improvement. There are 3 types of measures; outcome measures, balancing measure and process measures. To learn more visit Choosing Your Measures here.
Quantitative Measures:
Quantitative measures relate to the quantity of something rather than its quality. A quantitative measure could be the number of falls that happen per week.
Qualitative Measures:
Qualitative measures relate to the quality of something rather than its quantity, it describes information rather than quantify it. A qualitative measure can be patient satisfaction.
Run Charts:
Run charts display data over a period of time, they are useful to assess whether an improved performance has been sustained and allow QI teams to compare a measure before and after implementation.
Drivers:
Drivers are areas that need to change to ensure an improvement takes place; they “drive” a team to achieve their project aim.
Driver Diagram:
A driver diagram is a visual display of a team’s drivers that will contribute to the achievement of a project aim. See building a driver diagram for more details
All teach all learn:
When we use this phrase, we are referring to the need to work as a community, collaborating and openly and honestly sharing our learning with each other. Regardless of our roles or position in the organisation.
Statistical process control (SPC) charts:
SPC charts help to understand what are the norms for a system and what can be classed as a difference for a system. In QI these charts illustrate if a change a project team has brought in leads to an improvement. There are two forms of SPC charts 1) run charts and 2) control charts.