Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CQI Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), PDCA stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act. This is a well-established iterative process used for continuous improvement in various settings, including healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries.

The 'Plan' phase involves identifying an opportunity for improvement and planning a change. This includes defining objectives, resources, and developing a hypothesis about what changes might lead to improvements. In the 'Do' phase, the plan is implemented on a small scale to test its effectiveness. During the 'Check' phase, the results of the implementation are observed and analyzed to determine if the change improved the outcomes as anticipated. Finally, in the 'Act' phase, the findings from the previous steps are used to either standardize the change, abandon it, or make further modifications based on the analysis.

This methodology emphasizes a systematic approach to problem-solving and quality enhancement, making it a fundamental concept in CQI. Understanding this process is crucial for effectively implementing quality improvements in various environments.