LifeQI: Use of PDSAs in healthcare (28 September 2022)

Summary

The PDSA - a four-step model for improvement - has been used to support improvement in healthcare for many years now. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) describe it as ‘shorthand for testing a change — by planning it, trying it, observing the results, and acting on what you learn. It is the scientific method, used for action-oriented learning in real-life situations. It is common to all improvement methodologies.’ In this blog, LifeQI takes a look at why the ‘Plan-Do-Study-Act’ or PDSA cycle is so widely used within healthcare organisations. It delves into the benefits – and any disadvantages – of using PDSAs in healthcare and how you can use them to drive quality improvement.