What is the Improvement Map?

The Improvement Map is IHI’s way to help hospitals improve patient care by focusing on an essential set of processes needed to achieve the highest levels of performance in areas that matter most to patients. The Improvement Map helps hospitals make sense of the many complex and competing demands hospitals face by offering easy-to-follow guidance through an often confusing landscape. Hospital leaders can use the Improvement Map to distill from hundreds of requirements and measurements their own agenda for change, and establish priorities, organize work, and optimize resources. In short, the Improvement Map will describe a straightforward and comprehensive process for achieving outstanding hospital care.

Why did IHI develop the Improvement Map?

Over the years – especially during the 100,000 Lives and 5 Million Lives Campaigns – health care providers have told IHI they want help making sense of the many complex and competing demands hospitals face.  IHI developed the Improvement Map to give hospitals a tool they can use to distill – from hundreds of requirements and measurements – their own agenda for change, and establish priorities, organize work, and optimize resources.  The goal of the Improvement Map is to offer clear and comprehensive processes to achieve the highest levels of performance in areas that matter most to patients.

Who will decide which processes are on the Improvement Map?

The current Improvement Map was been built by IHI staff, faculty experts and many scientific partners and colleagues.  It has also been reviewed and enhanced by leaders from mentor hospitals. You can find a list of Improvement Map advisors and authors by going to the Improvement Map homepage.

When will the Improvement Map be available?

The Improvement Map is scheduled for full launch on September 15, 2009. IHI is currently testing the prototype of the Improvement Map with a select group of organizations. The feedback from these organizations will help create a stronger version of the Improvement Map that will be publicly available in September.

Is there any cost to use the Improvement Map?

The Improvement Map is a free and open resource available to anyone, anywhere, who shares IHI’s mission of improving health care. 

How does the Improvement Map take into account other national initiatives?

IHI has worked intensely with national experts and innovative organizations to develop, field test, and refine components of the Improvement Map. Wherever possible, we will coordinate our efforts with priorities established by other national organizations. The Improvement Map will enable hospital leaders to distill from hundreds of requirements and measurements their own agenda for change, and will help establish priorities, organize work, and optimize resources.

Is the Improvement Map a new IHI program (like the 5 Million Lives Campaign)?

No.  Though the Improvement Map builds on the work of the 100,000 Lives and 5 Million Lives Campaigns, the Improvement Map is a tool and not a new IHI program or campaign.

Organizations can continue to access the rich content that was offered in the Campaigns – including How-to Guides, tools, and introductory calls – at no cost, and they will also be able to access new, vibrant forms of support.

I have an office practice.  Is the Improvement Map only for hospitals?

Currently, the Improvement Map is designed to support hospital care. This is the first test of a useful tool to support improvement. IHI may develop similar tools for other settings, including office practices, in the future.

Has the 5 Million Lives Campaign ended?

Though the 5 Million Lives Campaign came to a formal close on December 10, 2008, the support hospitals have come to expect from IHI’s Campaigns will not end. IHI will continue to help hospitals until patients everywhere receive the best care possible, every time.

IHI’s next frontier of hospital work is the IHI Improvement Map. Building on many years of hard work in hospitals and the momentum of the 100,000 Lives and 5 Million Lives Campaigns, IHI will now help hospitals improve patient care by focusing on an essential set of process improvements designed to achieve high levels of performance in areas that matter most to patients. The map will make sense of many complex and competing demands, making it possible for hospitals to find reliable routes to success.

Organizations can continue to access the rich content and support that was offered in the Campaigns, including How-to Guides, tools, and introductory calls, at no cost, and they will also be able to access new, vibrant forms of support.