Assemble a Project Team
Time to Complete: 1 week
Difficulty: Easy
Outcome: Staff resources and commitment to data collection and measurement system
Steps
Get staff involved
Determine which staff need to be on the team that will get the data into a format that facilitates review by the entire team and supports decision-making.
Schedule meetings
In your first meeting:
- Watch your choice of these AAFP videos if the team needs a refresher: "Use Data to Improve Your Practice," "Improve Care with Patient Registries," "Understanding METRIC and Performance Improvement" and "Model for Improvement."
- State clearly why you're analyzing the data.
- Determine staff roles and responsibilities.
- Identify how often analysis should be done and what the products of analysis should be.
Develop a timeline
- For analyzing the first set of data collected
- For identifying a change to pursue
What You'll Need
- Data from your data collection system
- A project team and leader
- Additional time to work on project
- A computer with Internet access to watch videos
Example
Read FPM's article "A Team Approach to Quality Improvement" for an example of how a medical group made changes that improved the quality of care delivered to its patients who had diabetes.
Where to Go for Help
The AAFP videos "Use Data to Improve Your Practice" and "Improve Care with Patient Registries" provide overviews on using data and patient registries to improve patient care.
To learn about AAFP's METRIC (Measuring, Evaluating and Translating Research Into Care) program, watch these videos: "Understanding METRIC and Performance Improvement" and "Model for Improvement."
If you and your staff don't have the time or other resources to create a data collection system and/or make use of collected data, but still want or need to make some improvements, consider hiring a consultant. The AAFP Buyer's Guide can help you find a consultant.
To learn about AAFP's METRIC (Measuring, Evaluating and Translating Research Into Care) program, watch these videos: "Understanding METRIC and Performance Improvement" and "Model for Improvement."
If you and your staff don't have the time or other resources to create a data collection system and/or make use of collected data, but still want or need to make some improvements, consider hiring a consultant. The AAFP Buyer's Guide can help you find a consultant.
Join a free collaborative online network committed to practice transformation. Learn more about Delta-Exchange.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
This Patient-Centered Medical Home section of the AAFP web site was supported in part by a grant from Merck & Co.
