Using PDSA to improve your practice (photos)
Mair St, Sturt Medical and Carn Brae are using PDSA cycles to make small improvements to the way that their practice operates. Here’s an example.
The change
- Goal: systematic approach to the handling of urgent faxed results after hours
- How we know it’s an improvement: survey doctors and clerical staff
- Idea: meet with doctors to ask for input
PDSA cycle
Plan
- What: doctors’ meeting
- Who: manager and all GPs
- When: 21/5/09 at 12.30pm
- Where: boardroom
- Predictions: not all GPs can attend
- Data to be collected: list of ideas on how to improve system
Do
Meeting held, those GPs who did not work on a Thursday could not attend, and apologies received from two other doctors.
Study
All GPs who attended meeting actively participated with view on how best to handle late night urgent results.
Decision made to test a 7.00 pm urgent result appointment with a doctor working in the evening on a rotational basis so that all GPs were able to assist with the urgent result appointment. This would enable GPs to have time to review patient file.
GPs wanted clerical staff advised of this appointment and also of the need to only use this service if the GP who ordered test was not working.
Also GPs requested that confirmation be made that pathology and radiology company used had after hours contacts.
Act
Meet with clerical staff and advise of test changes, contact pathology and radiology companies to ensure they have afterhours contacts, survey to be sent to doctors and clerical staff.
NEW cycle
Plan
- What: advising staff of new faxed urgent result system test
- Who: TC
- When: via email and then on agenda for staff meeting
- Where: clinic
- Predictions: some people may need clarification of new protocol
- Data to be collected: input from clerical staff
Do
Email sent outlining new procedure for faxed urgent results of an evening to both clerical staff and all doctors. Clerical staff advised of the new rotated result appointment for one GP at 7.00 pm. Also remind that first option should always be GP who ordered test if they were working.
Study
Clerical staff were very keen to participate in a more systematic approach to urgent faxed results.
Act
Surveys to be sent out to all staff in 2 weeks’ time asking how the new protocol was going.
Well?
Could your practice implement this methodology? Want to learn more on implementing PDSAs? Contact me or Tanya Gradolf at the division.
Nicole McGrath and Dr Michael Pickavance (Mair St)
Dr Jim Thomson and Marg Wilson (Sturt Medical)
Helen Payne, Gail Buchanan, Belinda Hunt, Karen Park, Dr Ruth Hand and Lisa Lulham (Carn Brae)
Change can take time. Be patient.
