Quality Improvement Tools to Advance Public Health Performance
Whether preparing for public health accreditation; providing support toward the achievement of community health improvement and organizational strategic goals; or managing the development of individuals, teams, and daily work, the use of quality improvement (QI) methods and tools is critical to support the work of performance improvement professionals. QI methods and tools can assist organizations to fulfill their missions, improve the health of their communities, and increase their efficiency and effectiveness.
This toolkit, developed by the Public Health Foundation (PHF), includes tools organized into the following categories. Some tools may appear in multiple categories.
These tools supplement concepts from the Public Health Quality Improvement Encyclopedia (2012), a guide featuring 75 QI tools for public health practitioners.
PHF performance improvement experts have activated these tools in the field. If your organization needs support in using these tools, has questions, or can share an example of how these tools have been used, please contact Ron Bialek at rbialek@phf.org.
Communication and Presentation
Visual representations often provide significant context and can increase buy-in and support. Tools in this category provide examples of how to effectively communicate about improvement efforts.
Quality Improvement Tools for Communication and Presentation
A3 Problem Solving Report
A3 Problem Solving Report - Concisely describe and document a problem solving process, similar to a Storyboard
Community Stakeholder Services Map
Community Stakeholder Services Map - Develop a visual representation of where services are physically located in relation to each other
Decision Making
These tools ease the process of decision making, allowing individuals and teams to explore potential options and select effective solutions in an objective way.
Quality Improvement Tools for Decision Making
Action SWOT Analysis
Action SWOT Analysis - Use identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to identify action steps
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member – Learn how integrating AI tools into your QI processes can drive improvement and innovation in your health department’s initiatives
Bow Tie Diagram
Bow Tie Diagram - Create a roadmap of causes, controls, impacts, and preparedness steps in place to minimize the impacts of high-risk situations
Consensus Decision Making Matrix
Consensus Decision Making Matrix - Divide an issue into primary and secondary components as a framework for achieving consensus
Diagnostic Force Field Analysis
Diagnostic Force Field Analysis - Expand a Force Field Analysis to include relative strength of drivers and restrainers
Electronic Prioritization Matrix
Electronic Prioritization Matrix - Use the formulas in the electronic template to translate multiple comparison decisions into a prioritized list for action planning or consensus building
Multivoting
Multivoting - Narrow a large list of possibilities to a short list of priorities or a final decision
PICK Chart
PICK Chart - Rank projects by considering their level of difficulty (the amount of scarce resources required) and the level of payoff (the improvement gain)
Process Value Analysis
Process Value Analysis - Enable a team to analyze each step in a process to determine its value, developing a ratio of function to cost
SWOTIE
Expand Your SWOT Analysis to Include Inclusion and Equity: Make it a SWOTIE – Build inclusion and equity into the traditional SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis
Leadership Development
These tools support the development of leadership skills, whether serving in a formal leadership role, leading a team through an improvement process, or seeking to build individual leadership capacity.
Quality Improvement Tools for Leadership Development
Clean Sheet Process Redesign
Clean Sheet Process Redesign - Empower a team to move away from the current state and enable a complete transformation of a workflow process
Community Stakeholder Services Map
Community Stakeholder Services Map – Develop a visual representation of where services are physically located in relation to each other
Electronic Tuckman Tool
Electronic Tuckman Tool – Assess the status of group development and identify next steps for maturing team infrastructure
Managing Disruptions and Distractions Matrix
Managing Disruptions and Distractions Matrix - Chart a course for accomplishing urgent and important tasks by avoiding distractions
Nine Pillars of Quality Improvement
Nine Pillars of Quality Improvement - Rate organizational QI culture and use results to inform action planning
QI Culture Map
QI Culture Map - Visually capture the status of QI culture within an organization
Selecting Quality Improvement Team Members
Selecting Quality Improvement Team Members - Compare skills and characteristics of potential QI team members to select the most successful team
Taking the Pulse of Your Team
Taking the Pulse of Your Team - Understand a team’s behavioral performance over time using a checklist of tasks and processes and a questionnaire
Team Charter
Team Charter – Create the initial direction a team needs to be successful and reduce confusion
Problem Solving
Whether used individually or within a team, these tools guide the problem solving process by identifying root causes, offering methods to achieve consensus, and developing visual representations of problems and solutions.
Quality Improvement Tools for Problem Solving
8D Customer Complaint Resolution Report
8D Customer Complaint Resolution Report - Solve customer complaints through an eight-step analysis that elevates organizational focus on the customer
A3 Problem Solving Report
A3 Problem Solving Report - Concisely describe and document a problem-solving process, similar to a Storyboard
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member - Learn how integrating AI tools into your QI processes can drive improvement and innovation in your health department’s initiatives
Analytic Cause Tree
Analytic Cause Tree - Determine root causes of a problem and develop corrective actions to remedy the problem
Clean Sheet Process Redesign
Clean Sheet Process Redesign - Empower a team to move away from the current state and enable a complete transformation of a workflow process
Community Stakeholder Services Map
Community Stakeholder Services Map – Develop a visual representation of where services are physically located in relation to each other
Consensus Decision Making Matrix
Consensus Decision Making Matrix - Divide an issue into primary and secondary components as a framework for achieving consensus
Diagnostic Force Field Analysis
Diagnostic Force Field Analysis - Expand a Force Field Analysis to include the relative strength of drivers and restrainers
Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping - Develop a non-linear graphical diagram to link and organize information about an issue
Nine Windows
Nine Windows - Visualize alternatives to the current state by viewing a problem through nine different lenses
Population Health Driver Diagram
Population Health Driver Diagram - Identify primary and secondary drivers of a community health issue, as a starting point for development of targeted improvements
Process Value Analysis
Process Value Analysis - Enable a team to analyze each step in a process to determine its value, developing a ratio of function to cost
SCAMPER Technique
SCAMPER Technique - Generate a list of ideas focused on customer needs and optimum process improvements
SIPOC+CM+CE Collection Form
SIPOC+CM+CE Collection Form - Identify and analyze the major elements of organizational core processes
Solvability and Control Matrix
Solvability and Control Matrix - Explore and assess process problems to determine which can be easily solved and which should be brought to a QI team
Project Management
Effective management of projects is critical to their success. Tools in this category provide recommendations to ensure that projects are completed well, and potential derailments are avoided.
Quality Improvement Tools for Project Management
Change Management Contingency Matrix
Change Management Contingency Matrix - Evaluate potential areas for failure and plan for avoiding them when making a major organizational change
Idea Parking Lot Matrix
Idea Parking Lot Matrix - Minimize distractions and unrelated disruptions during meetings
Mistake Proofing
Mistake Proofing - Develop countermeasures where a mistake or defect could occur, to improve productivity and reduce rework
Pre-Mortem Analysis
Pre-Mortem Analysis - Identify vulnerabilities and potential failures in a plan to prevent them
Strategy Conceptualization Tree
Strategy Conceptualization Tree - Translate broadly stated needs into specific, actionable, achievable, and measurable requirements
Strategy and Strategic Planning
Performance improvement professionals are often called upon to support the development of an organizational strategic plan. These tools can be used during a formal strategic planning process, or in strategy development for projects or initiatives, including QI projects.
Quality Improvement Tools for Strategy and Strategic Planning
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member
AI Can Be a Useful Quality Improvement Team Member – Learn how integrating AI tools into your QI processes can drive improvement and innovation in your health department’s initiatives
Change Management Contingency Matrix
Change Management Contingency Matrix - Evaluate potential areas for failure and plan for avoiding them when making a major organizational change
Community Stakeholder Services Map
Community Stakeholder Services Map – Develop a visual representation of where services are physically located in relation to each other
Investigating Change
Investigating Change - Explore changes through eight parameters to build on strengths and avoid challenges that can derail efforts
Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping - Develop a non-linear graphical diagram to link and organize information about an issue
Mistake Proofing
Mistake Proofing - Develop countermeasures where a mistake or defect could occur to improve productivity and reduce rework
Nine Pillars of Quality Improvement
Nine Pillars of Quality Improvement - Rate organizational QI culture and use results to inform action planning
PESTLE Chart
PESTLE Chart - Understand an organization’s current operating state by scanning the external environment for factors that could impact strategy development
PICK Chart
PICK Chart - Rank projects by considering their level of difficulty (the amount of scarce resources required) and the level of payoff (the improvement gain)
Population Health Driver Diagram
Population Health Driver Diagram - Identify primary and secondary drivers of a community health issue, as a starting point for development of targeted improvements
Pre-Mortem Analysis
Pre-Mortem Analysis - Identify vulnerabilities and potential failures in a plan to prevent them
Process Value Analysis
Process Value Analysis - Enable a team to analyze each step in a process to determine its value, developing a ratio of function to cost
QI Culture Map
QI Culture Map - Visually capture the status of QI culture within an organization
SIPOC+CM+CE Collection Form
SIPOC+CM+CE Collection Form - Identify and analyze the major elements of organizational core processes
Strategy Conceptualization Tree
Strategy Conceptualization Tree - Translate broadly stated needs into specific, actionable, achievable, and measurable requirements
Team Management
Team management and development are critical skills for performance improvement professionals. These tools are designed to be used with teams or to improve skills in team development and facilitation.
Quality Improvement Tools for Team Management
Consensus Decision Making Matrix
Consensus Decision Making Matrix - Divide an issue into primary and secondary components as a framework for achieving consensus
Electronic Tuckman Tool
Electronic Tuckman Tool – Assess the status of group development and identify next steps for maturing team infrastructure
Facilitating and Coaching Teams
Facilitating and Coaching Teams: Tips and Techniques - Learn how experts have used facilitation and coaching techniques with teams to get them performing at maximum potential
Idea Parking Lot Matrix
Idea Parking Lot Matrix – Minimize distractions and unrelated disruptions during meetings
Ingredients for Effective Meetings and Team Communication
Ingredients for Effective Meetings and Team Communication - Explore ways to make meetings and other team communications more productive
Roles and Responsibilities for Launching Teams
Roles and Responsibilities for Launching Teams - Understand effective ways to use, create, develop, and empower teams
Selecting Quality Improvement Team Members
Selecting Quality Improvement Team Members - Compare skills and characteristics of potential QI team members to select the most successful team
Taking the Pulse of Your Team
Taking the Pulse of Your Team - Understand a team’s behavioral performance over time using a checklist of tasks and processes and a questionnaire
Team Charter
Team Charter – Create the initial direction a team needs to be successful and reduce confusion
Time Management
Managing limited resources and meeting deadlines can be challenging requirements. These tools support efforts to effectively use time allotted for projects, preventing distractions and minimizing errors.
Quality Improvement Tools for Time Management
Idea Parking Lot Matrix
Idea Parking Lot Matrix – Minimize distractions and unrelated disruptions during meetings
Managing Disruptions and Distractions Matrix
Managing Disruptions and Distractions Matrix - Chart a course for accomplishing urgent and important tasks by avoiding distractions
Mistake Proofing
Mistake Proofing - Develop countermeasures where a mistake or defect could occur to improve productivity and reduce rework
Pre-Mortem Analysis
Pre-Mortem Analysis - Identify vulnerabilities and potential failures in a plan to prevent them