Step $1$: Select a quality tool that will be the basis for your paper.

Tools help document a process, ID issue cause, prioritize the issues to the vital few, and design and implement improvement. There are also brainstorming and root cause tools.

It doesn't have to be complex. It might be a checklist, standard process, fishbone to brainstorm, etc.

Also, it doesn't have to be specifically healthcare$-$related, some students choose to do something for home.

You can share a current tool in use or use a tool for something new at home or work.

If using an existing tool, is the tool working well and why or if not, what can you do to improve the tool or create a better tool?

Is there a tool that you want to use to help with a quality issue?

Some examples from home are wasting food, getting kids to perform tasks.

Some examples from healthcare are a standard process that no one follows, volume tracking dashboards that are updated, employee satisfaction tracking, patient surveys.

Making it relevant to you is important and I hope you can actually have some fun with this.

Remember, tools have purpose and value. Presenting and sharing data supports transparency and accountability. Several of the tools help "paint the picture" of the process and help us track and trend our improvement efforts.

Recommended Structure

Title page

Introduction to your paper

Describe the tool

How you are using the tool $($your purpose for the tool$)?$

Is it useful? How?

Is it meeting its purpose?

If not, could it be better? How?

If yes, why the tool is valuable

Conclusion $($summary$)$

Appendix $($example of the tool$)$