Understanding the current process means mapping out how things currently work in a healthcare setting before making improvements. It involves identifying steps, bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and risks within a process to ensure data-driven, effective changes.
Why is it important?
Understanding the current process:
- Prevents assumptions and ensures improvements target real issues instead of perceived ones
- Highlights unnecessary steps, delays, and errors
- Engages stakeholders
- Provides a baseline for measuring change
How to understand the current process in a QI project
- Define the process that can be improved
- Gather data on the current process
- Observe, interview, review reports, etc.
- Map the process
- Use a flowchart, swimlane diagram, or value stream map
- Identify barriers and root causes
- Use findings to inform interventions
Example
In a QI project focused on reducing patient delays when transferring from ICU to general wards, the project lead sought to understand the current process by interviewing staff. These interviews revealed that miscommunication was the primary cause of the delays. To further explore the issue, the project lead created a flowchart to map the current transfer process.
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