Improvement requires setting aims. Without intent, there is no improvement. How can teams select their aims? One way is to review some of the "best practices" and "even better practices" presented in Part Two. If best practices for pain relief are not in practice at their organization, a team might want to select one or two ideas and use them as aims. Teams can also talk to patients and families and get a feel for what is lacking (or what is working) in the care and treatment they receive.
Set aims that will matter to patients and families — these are the aims most likely to motivate professional caregivers to improve practice. Express aims in terms that can be quantified — for example, we want:
By setting clear, measurable aims, teams can chart their progress, and change course when necessary.
This text is derived from the book Improving Care for the End of Life : A Sourcebook for Health Care Managers and Clinicians.