Filling in the CDS/QI Strategy Template

Case example illustrating how to populate the template with the current target-focused CDS/QI approach, and potential enhancements

• QI project on BP control
• How will we use this template to help?
• Why/how will this work?

Introduction to the template structure (understand and use the columns and rows)

• First, scan the sample templates to get a sense of what the templates look like when filled out for a particular topic. Also look at QI Case Studies [link]
• Using the template begins with documenting the target of interest in row 2, and what's known about performance on that target in row 3
• Columns A divides care flow pertinent to a specific care setting (inpatient or outpatient) into 2 basic categories; activities pertinent to individual patients, and activities pertinent to whole populations cared for by the provider organization
• Columns B and C further break down these categories into more specific subdivisions, each of which is an opportunity to support critical decisions and workflows that ultimately determine performance on the targeted measure
• Columns D and E outline the specific activities at each care flow stages that need to happen to result in good care delivery and outcomes pertinent to the measure. Column F indicates the places that these activities typically occur
• Columns H through L are where you can document how each of the 5 CDS 5 Rights dimensions [see discussion in Foundational Concepts in this tutorial] are being utilized in your current approach to your target.
• Use column N to document any specific issues related to how you've configured the CDS 5 Rights dimensions at this care flow step, e.g., if you put any clinical policies in place underpin the information flows outlined.
• After filling out the entire template with your current target-focused information flows and discussing it with your QI team (and potentially others such as your REC and EHR/HIT vendors), use column O to document potential enhancements to your approach at each care flow step.
• Use the set-up considerations row under the main template table to document things you'll need to do that cut across individual care step rows to successfully implement your enhanced CDS/QI configuration.

Step by step “How-to” use the template to understand and improve target-focused information flow

• Look again in more detail at sample templates to get a richer sense of what they look like filled out. Also look at QI Case Studies [link]
• Consider tracer methodology [like Pam used]
• [some of this stuff is in the User Guide tab on the template]
• [it's also fine to 'borrow' liberally from the User's Guide web pages on the CDS/PI Collaborative website]
• [Say something about expand/contract functionality, e.g. putting summary information in the gray rows and showing/hiding details underneath]
• [I think we've agreed to somehow add an annotatable, summary, flowchart version of the inpatient and outpatient templates to help users warm up to the high level care flow steps and related CDS opportunities - such a flowchart version is in the CDS guidebook worksheets, and was in some of the templates that Collaborative participants used. If we add these back in, we'll need to work them into this tutorial section.]

Links:

Toolkit

Template Tutorial Home

What is template and why would I want to use it?

Foundational Concepts