Quality Improvement Methods: PDSA, Lean and Clinical Audit

1. Program overview

Most clinical staff are asked to improve something without ever being taught how. This course provides the method: writing an aim statement that is specific and measurable, mapping the process as it actually runs, choosing measures that will detect change, running PDSA cycles at a sensible scale, and reading a run chart honestly. It also covers clinical audit as a distinct activity with its own standards-based logic, and the Lean concepts that transfer usefully to healthcare. A survey of Saudi senior residents found 74.8% wanted formal training in this and 68.8% were unaware any existed.

2. Why this program

• A complete method, small enough to actually run.
• Measures and run charts taught properly.
• Clinical audit distinguished from improvement.
• Sustainability treated as part of the method.

3. Who it is for

Nurse · Physician · Pharmacist · Quality Officer · Allied Health · Healthcare Manager

4. Program objectives

• Write an improvement aim that is specific, measurable and time-bound
• Map a clinical process as it is actually performed
• Select outcome, process and balancing measures for a project
• Design and run a PDSA cycle at an appropriate scale
• Interpret a run chart and distinguish signal from noise
• Distinguish clinical audit from quality improvement and apply each appropriately

5. Learning outcomes

• Construct an aim statement for a described improvement problem
• Select appropriate outcome, process and balancing measures
• Design a first PDSA cycle proportionate to a stated problem
• Interpret a run chart for evidence of genuine change
• Differentiate audit against a standard from iterative improvement
• Plan the actions required to sustain an achieved improvement

6. Curriculum

1. Module 1: Framing the Problem

   • Framing the Problem

2. Module 2: Understanding the Process

   • Understanding the Process

3. Module 3: Choosing Measures

   • Choosing Measures

4. Module 4: PDSA in Practice

   • PDSA in Practice

5. Module 5: Run Charts and Interpretation

   • Run Charts and Interpretation

6. Module 6: Clinical Audit and Sustaining Change

   • Clinical Audit and Sustaining Change

7. Duration and structure

Total study hours: 4 — 3.25h content + 0.75h assessment. Duration is expressed in study hours only.

9. What you receive

This certificate confirms completion of Quality Improvement Methods: PDSA, Lean and Clinical Audit. Duration is expressed in study hours.

10. Delivery format

Self-paced · start any time · any device · lifetime access to the enrolled version.