By David M. Williams, Ph.D. No one likes to talk about dying. Sudden death due to heart disease occurs 250,000 times a year in the United States. A person is just living their life and unexpectedly their heart stops. Just like that…you’re officially clinically dead. Not so fast. If this happens when you’re not […]
Back-of-the-Envelope Problem Solving
in Education, Implementation, Improvement Science, PDSA, Systems, Tools & MethodsBy David M. Williams, Ph.D. The Breakthrough Series Collaborative model is an improvement learning system that brings teams together to pursue a shared aim. Teams use an evidence-based change theory and improvement methods including the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Cycle and time-series data (run charts and Shewhart Control Charts). In the Institute for Healthcare […]
What’s Your Management Method?
in Improvement Science, Leadership, Quality as a Business Strategy (QBS)By David M. Williams, Ph.D. Source: James L Reinertsen, MD, The Reinertsen Group Recently I sat down with Dr. Jim Reinersten to think about what makes traditional leaders shift to being quality leaders. Dr. Reinersten is a rheumatologist by training and former hospital chief executive. He’s also a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement […]
Problem-Solving by Learning From the Process
in Improvement Science, Knowledge, Systems, Tools & Methods, VariationBy David M. Williams, Ph.D. Photo by Bluehouse Skis on Unsplash Let’s face it…patient care documentation is not the most enjoyable aspect of clinical care delivery. It takes time, the electronic medical record isn’t user friendly, and caregivers have a lot going on. It’s no surprise improving clinical documentation is a common improvement opportunity for a […]
How Leaders Decide a Change is Needed
in Improvement Science, Knowledge, Leadership, Quality as a Business Strategy (QBS), SystemsBy David M. Williams, Ph.D. Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash Have you ever searched your computer hard drive only to be surprised by the number of files and multiple versions of a similar theme? I have hundreds of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations from client engagements, trainings, and conferences I’ve delivered and dozens of Microsoft Word documents of blog […]
Control Charts – What’s in a name?
in Measurement, Tools & Methods, Variationby David M. Williams, Ph.D. Provost & Murray. (2010). Health Care Data Guide. Figure 14.18. P. 127 Have you taken one of those silly quizzes on social media that ask you to answer several questions and then it tells you what political candidate is most like you or what part of the country you’re from? […]
Shhh…Leaders Don’t Talk about Systems Thinking
in Improvement Science, Systemsby David M. Williams, PhD Photo by Jeremy Philemon on Unsplash As New York began its response to the COVID19 outbreak, a journalist asked Governor Cuomo why he had not closed the schools and stopped […]
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen?
in COVID-19, Systems, Tools & MethodsBy David M Williams, PhD Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash I’m not the best at small talk. A closet introvert, I’m not the first one to start a conversation. That doesn’t mean I don’t like meeting new people, getting to know them, or going to parties. In Steve Harper’s book The Ripple Effect, when […]
Hand Washing, Standard Work, and PDSA Testing
in Implementation, Improvement Science, PDSA, VariationBy David M Williams, PhD Photo by Curology on Unsplash Many changes we want to implement in daily practice appear obvious and simple. It’s easy to see why leaders want to jump to implementation. Just do it! We don’t need to waste time testing. Let’s just roll it out; people will adopt it. COVID-19 is requiring us to […]
Quality Requires People
in Building Capability, Improvement Science, Leadership, PsychologyBy David M. Williams, PhD “Improvement would be easy if it weren’t for all of the people involved.” — David M. Williams, PhD In the books we read or in the workshops where we learn, improvement can feel very matter of fact. Use tools like cause and effect diagrams or Pareto charts to […]