Application of PDCA to Individual Patients

         As explained in a previous blog, the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle is an tool used for continuous improvement of products, services, or processes. If utilized correctly, it provides continuous and incremental improvements and removes unnecessary activities and variations providing increased capability, reduced costs, improved efficiency and quality over time ( Advocate, 2012). Health care organization can utilized the PDCA cycle in a wide range of areas.

The PDCA cycle can be applied and tailored to each individual patients. The following is an example of the PDCA cycle

Plan:

• Background information- Gather History and Physical information: Patient fainted after running 4 miles in the morning.
• Problem Statement- Patient is short of breath, elevated heart rate, and fainted shortly after physical exercise. Patient stated that he did not eat breakfast.
• Goal- Upon confirmation of hypoglycemic diagnosis, treat patient until vital signs return to normal range.
• Cause Analysis: CMP lab test drawn identified electrolytes level. Tested for blood glucose level. Result showed blood glucose level below normal range, supporting diagnosis of hypoglycemia.

Do:

Administer D5W IV and electrolyte replacement.

Perform glucose test in every 30 minutes.

Check:

Glucose level return to normal.

Patient does not feel dizzy.

Act:

Ensure patient is provided with education material on nutrition and exercise.

If patient comes back again for some symptoms, check for other possible illness.

Reference

Advocate Health Care (2012). Continous Improvement Methodology- PDCA. Retrieved from http://www.advocatehealth.com/documents/research/06%20Lipp%20Haussen_PDCA_Presentation.pdf