Plan a family of measures that is ready for your QI mentor's review.

Why QI measurement plans come back with red ink

Most quality improvement projects start with a worksheet: list your outcome, process and balancing measures, define each one and explain how the data will be collected. Mentors and QI committees then see the same gaps: a percentage with no denominator, unwritten exclusions, no balancing measure, or monthly data over a six-month project, which leaves six points and no usable run chart.

This planner turns the worksheet into a guided form with a plan check that catches those gaps as you write. Record the sign-off when the plan is approved, and every later change is listed for you.

Outcome, process and balancing measures

The planner follows the measurement approach of the Model for Improvement as described by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI: Establishing Measures):

• Outcome measures show how the system is working for patients or customers, such as a clinic no-show rate.
• Process measures show whether the parts you changed are performing as planned, such as reminder calls made.
• Balancing measures check that improving one part is not causing new problems elsewhere, such as front desk time.

IHI suggests a modest set of about four to ten measures. The IHI QI project measures worksheet and the Safer Care Victoria template give the typical mix: one or two outcome, three to five process and sometimes one or two balancing measures. The plan check treats these ranges as guidance, not rules.

What the plan check looks for

• Complete operational definitions: numerator and denominator, unit, data source, who collects, frequency and sampling.
• A balanced family: outcome, process and balancing measures, and not more than anyone will collect.
• An aim with a number and a date, and a baseline and goal pointing in the improving direction.
• Enough data points: a run chart works best with at least 10 (Safer Care Victoria: run charts).
• No duplicates and no identifiers, such as record numbers, dates of birth or phone numbers.

Then download a data collection sheet for each measure and chart your weekly results in the QI Run Chart Builder. Two fictional example projects are built in.

Who it is for

• Residents and fellows leading the QI project their program requires (AAFP: QI and patient safety in residency).
• Nurses and nurse leaders running unit-based improvement projects.
• QI coaches and faculty mentors who want plans complete before the first meeting.
• Medical, nursing, PA and pharmacy students learning the Model for Improvement.

Family of measures FAQ

What is a family of measures in quality improvement?

A small set of measures that together show whether a change is an improvement: outcome measures for the result, process measures for whether the changed steps are happening, and balancing measures for new problems the change might cause. Improvement guides commonly suggest one or two outcome measures, three to five process measures and one or two balancing measures.

What is an operational definition?

A description of a measure clear enough that two people collecting it would get the same number: what is counted, the numerator and denominator for a percentage or rate, what is included and excluded, where the data come from, who collects them, how often and whether you sample.

How many data points do I need?

A run chart works best with at least 10 data points. The plan check counts the complete data collection periods between your start and end dates for each measure and warns you when a measure will have fewer than 10.

Can I enter patient data?

No. A measurement plan describes how you will count, not who the patients are. Never enter names, record numbers, dates of birth or other identifiers. The plan check looks for common identifier words and patterns and asks you to remove them, and the data collection sheet records totals per period only.

Does the plan check tell me if I chose the right measures?

No. It checks that the plan is complete and consistent: a balanced family, full operational definitions, a baseline and goal in the right direction, enough data points and no identifiers. Whether these are the right measures for your project is for your team, your mentor and your QI office to decide.

Where is my data stored?

Only in your browser's local storage on the device you use. Nothing is sent to MedRise. Back up saves a file you can restore on another device, and Clear my data deletes everything.

Get your measurement plan right before the first PDSA cycle

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Education and workflow support only. QI Family of Measures Planner helps you write down and check a measurement plan. It does not choose measures for you, does not decide whether a project is quality improvement or research (ask your organization's IRB or QI office), does not analyze patient data and does not replace your organization's QI process or professional judgment. It is not for patient information. See the terms and disclaimer and privacy notice.