QI Tools

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The Quality Improvement tools provided here can support you in your improvement work.

If you have any issues with the tools when downloading please contact us at qualityimprovement@nes.scot.nhs.uk

Quality Improvement Tools

Project Charter

A project charter is the statement of scope, objectives and people who are participating in a project.

Model for Improvement

The Model for Improvement is a simple yet powerful tool for accelerating improvement. The model is not meant to replace change models that organisations may already be using, but rather to accelerate improvement. 

PDSA

Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles are a quality improvement tool that can be used to test an idea by temporarily trialling a change and assessing its impact.

Driver Diagram

Visually presents a team's theory of how an improvement goal will be achieved.

Process Mapping

Visual representaion of the process. 

Pareto Chart

A Pareto Chart is a tool to help you understand your system.

Implementation Checklist

The implementation checklist is a tool that can help you plan your implementation.

Cause and Effect Diagram

Cause & Effect is a diagram-based technique that helps you identify all of the likely causes of the problems you're facing.

Capacity Calculator

A simple tool to understand the capacity of your team members and time spent on tasks.

Last 10 Patients Data collection tool

This tool uses patient information to identify variation in journey times

Measurement Plan

A measurement plan sets out details for each measure proposed for an improvement project.

5 Whys

The 5 Whys is a simple approach to help a team identify underlying reasons for a problem.

Force Field Analysis

Force Field Analysis is a method for listing , discussing, and assessing the various forces for and against a proposed change.

Prioritisation Matrix

A Prioritisation Matrix is a table that lets you rank ideas or projects in order of importance, using pre-defined criteria and weightings.

Measurement Tools

Measurement Plan

A measurement plan sets out details for each measure proposed for an improvement project.

Run Chart

A run chart is a line graph of data plotted over time. By collecting and charting data over time, you can find trends or patterns in the process.

SPC Chart

Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts are simple graphical tools that enable process performance monitoring.  

Scatter Plot

A graph in which the values of two variables are plotted along two axes, the pattern of the resulting points revealing any correlation present.

Funnel Plots

A funnel plot is a chart that helps to understand variation within a system.

Histogram

A histogram is a plot that lets you discover, and show, the underlying frequency distribution (shape) of a set of continuous data.

Communication Tools

Kahler's 5 Drivers

Kahler's 5 Drivers assists teams to understand how individuals are ‘driven’ and how to develop mutual understanding and build relationships within the team. 

Stakeholder Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis is a way of identifying, prioritising and understanding your stakeholders.

Communication and Engagement Plan

This communication and engagement strategy is designed to support the organisation to reach its objectives and vision. It sets out our approach to communication and engagement.

SBAR

An easy to use, structured form of communication that enables information to be transferred accurately between individuals.

Project Management Tools

7 Step Meeting Process

The 7 Step Meeting Process is a powerful framework for running efficient and effective meetings.

Action Plan

An action plan is a robust plan detailing all the actions required to achieve project goals.

Lessons Learned Log

Lessons Learned Logs are used to capture and share knowledge about what has worked well and what could have been done differently during the planning, management and delivery of an improvement project. They help others learn from the project team’s experience.

Team Huddles

Team huddles are a concise way of communicating with your team to proactively manage quality and safety.

Gantt chart

A Gantt chart is a visual timeline of tasks that will help a team to identify what should be done by when. 

RACI Matrix

The RACI Matrix is a tool to allocate responsibility across a team throughout the life of a project. 

Visual Management Board

A Visual Management Board is visual aid to show where in a project you are and how it has been progressing.