What is the purpose of the Act phase in the PDSA cycle?

The Act phase in the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is essential for implementing changes based on the findings from the Study phase. In this phase, teams reflect on the outcomes of the tests or changes that were made during the Do phase. They assess whether the interventions led to the desired improvements and consider the potential for making further modifications based on what was learned. Often, this involves identifying necessary changes to the plan for future cycles, which may include refining strategies to enhance effectiveness or making decisions about broader implementation across the organization. In this way, the Act phase is fundamentally about synthesizing insights and ensuring that changes are informed by evidence gathered during the previous steps, ultimately leading to a more effective healthcare strategy.