How does the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle relate to process measurement?

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a key framework used in process measurement and improvement within healthcare settings. Specifically, it provides a structured approach to testing changes in processes that aim to enhance quality and efficiency.

In the PDSA cycle, "Plan" involves identifying a change to test and developing a plan for how to implement it. "Do" is the execution of that plan, where the change is tested on a small scale. "Study" refers to analyzing the data collected during the test to understand its impact and effectiveness. Finally, "Act" involves making adjustments based on the outcomes and determining whether to adopt the change, refine it, or abandon it.

This iterative process allows teams to gather data and insights from real-world applications, enabling them to measure the effects of their changes accurately. Ultimately, the PDSA cycle fosters continuous improvement by using measurement to assess the impact of changes made in healthcare processes.

The other options focus on different aspects of healthcare management—one emphasizes financial analysis, another highlights patient demographics, and the last suggests maintaining status quo procedures—all of which are not directly related to the core objective of process measurement and improvement central to the PDSA framework.