About Our Clinical Support Process
In collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics-California Chapter 2 (Southern California), Anti-Vaping Champions aims to systematically improve the percentage of vaping screening and intervention among pediatric patients. Our team utilizes the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method of quality improvement to discover shortcomings in existing identification and treatment protocol, suggest possible areas for improvement, and assist in the implementation of a screening and cessation referral policy with our partner clinics. We also offer Maintenance of Certification Part 4 credit for board-certified pediatricians and up to $700 for participation.
Interested in partnering with AVC to engage in the QI process? Fill out our application here.
What is the PDSA QI Cycle?
PDSA stands for Plan. Do. Study. Act.
The process flows cyclically, beginning with a Plan which identifies:
- The objective of the process and changes to make
- Questions and predictions
- How the plan will be carried out (who, what, where, when)
The next stage, where the plan will be carried out, is Do. During this stage the clinic will:
- Carry out the plan and document any problems or unexpected observations
- Compile and begin analysis of the data collected
The third stage is composed of Studying the data. Here the clinic will:
- Complete the analysis of data
- Compare data and results with earlier predictions
- Summarize what was learned
The fourth and final stage is where the clinic will Act by:
- Determining which changes to make and adapting
- Abandoning changes that did not work
The cycle repeats with the formation of a new Plan based on the lessons learned.
Key Considerations for QI
- Take time to plan
- Focus on systems, not individuals
- Seek ideas/changes from the source: patients and front-line staff
- Focus testing small changes
- Involves frequent, ongoing measurement and data-driven decision making
- Not a finite process, it's continuous
- Should help staff, not hinder
- Test under as many conditions as possible
Model for Improvement
There are 5 components to the PSDA improvement model:
- A project
- People
- Measures
- Interventions
- Time to test
Consider the following questions which lay the foundation for improvement:
- Aim: What exactly are we trying to accomplish?
- Measures: How will we know that our changes are an improvement?
- Changes: What changes can we make that will result in an improvement?