Sourcebook : 2.1 How to make improvement happen

Testing Changes

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model thrives on trial and error. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is shorthand for testing a change by planning it, trying it, observing the consequences, and then acting on what is learned from those consequences. Teams need to be committed to doing all steps of the cycle. It is the only way to learn from the work.

Step 1. Plan a change	State the objective of the test—what will the team do? Make predictions about what will happen and why Develop a plan to test the change (Who will do what? When? Where? What data must be collected?)
Step 2. Do a change	Carry out the test Document problems and unexpected observations Collect and assess data
Step 3. Study a change	Analyze the data Compare the data to the team's predictions Summarize what the team learns
Step 4. Act on the next change	Modify plans as needed, including Revise the action, or Select a new approach, or Extend the work into a new area, or Institutionalize the change Prepare a plan for the next cycle

This text is derived from the book Improving Care for the End of Life : A Sourcebook for Health Care Managers and Clinicians.