By 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 […]
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 […]
Is it the method or my knowledge and execution?
in Improvement Science, PDSA, Public Safety, Tools & MethodsBy David M. Williams, PhD If you experience chest pain and dial 911 in most communities, an ambulance will respond in a timely and predictable manner to render aid. Many people don’t realize that modern ambulance service is a relatively new public service and began to professionalize in the 1970s. This predictability and reliability was […]
Single and Double Loop Learning
in Improvement Science, Knowledge, PDSABy David M. Williams, PhD Simulation is a powerful method for teaching new improvers how to learn and use the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycle to test changes. In addition to the Mr. Potato Head and the Coin Spin PDSA exercises, there are a host of other worthwhile options like the sequence exercise. You […]
Coin Spin PDSA Exercise
in Building Capability, Knowledge, Measurement, PDSA, Variation, VideosBy David M. Williams, PhD Several years ago, I was facilitating an improvement learning session and planned to use an exercise to help the participants learn how to do proper PDSAs and track data over time in a run chart. Normally, I would use my Mr. Potato Head PDSA exercise, but I didn’t want to carry […]
How to Build Your Degree of Belief Over Time
in Health Care, Knowledge, PDSA, VideosBy David M. Williams, PhD Harvardx course Practical Improvement Science in Health Care with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. When we develop a change our degree of belief starts off slow, because we have limited knowledge to support our test and our predictions. As we do more testing and discover what works and what doesn’t, as […]
What Are Rules for Doing Concurrent PDSA Cycles?
in Knowledge, PDSA, VideosBy David M. Williams, PhD Interview with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. — If this was helpful, share and include me @DaveWilliamsATX. Sign up here to receive a monthly email from me that includes all my blog posts and other Improvement Science resources I think you’d appreciate.
What’s an Easy Way to Learn about PDSA Cycles?
in Building Capability, PDSA, VideosBy David M. Williams, PhD Interview with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. — If this was helpful, share and include me @DaveWilliamsATX. Sign up here to receive a monthly email from me that includes all my blog posts and other Improvement Science resources I think you’d appreciate.
Why Is Planning Such an Important Part of PDSA?
in PDSA, VideosBy David M. Williams, PhD Interview with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. — If this was helpful, share and include me @DaveWilliamsATX. Sign up here to receive a monthly email from me that includes all my blog posts and other Improvement Science resources I think you’d appreciate.
How Can Mr. Potato Head Help Teach PDSA?
in Building Capability, Measurement, PDSA, Videosby David M. Williams, Ph.D. Interview with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. — If this was helpful, share and include me @DaveWilliamsATX. Sign up here to receive a monthly email from me that includes all my blog posts and other Improvement Science resources I think you’d appreciate.