An orthopedic clinic in a busy metropolitan area would like to improve its patient scheduling process. More specifically, the clinic wants to improve its efficiency and the satisfaction of its patients.
After assembling a team and working through the three questions of the Model for Improvement, the orthopedic clinic decides to implement an automated reminder phone call 24 hours prior to each clinical appointment. The clinic's improvement team hopes that this small change will improve scheduling.
What is the team's next step?
a. Report their results to clinic leadership and prepare a poster for a national meeting.
b. Develop their project-level measures.
c. Test their change plan using the PDSA cycle.
d. Take a well-deserved break.