Even though Deming’s ideas have driven healthcare improvement initiatives for nearly20 years, it is important to periodically revisit the theories, tools, and methods that drive quality improvement. New employees must also be properly grounded in these principles and tools in order to successfully spread improvement throughout the organization. This session provides an overview of quality models, tools and techniques, and team management essentials, as well as suggestions on how to test, implement, and spread strategies to improve quality and patient safety.

After this presentation you will be able to:

• Identify key models and approaches used to guide quality improvement work, and the major tools and techniques.
• Describe how to set up and run Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) tests of change.
• Distinguish between a task, a test, implementation, and spread.