An aim statement focuses your team on a measurable goal and keeps your improvement project on track. Write your aim statement at the first team meeting and revisit it as your project evolves.
A clear aim statement answers the first question of the Model for Improvement: what are you trying to accomplish?
Make your aim SMART
A SMART aim statement is:
- Specific: names the patient group, setting or process you want to improve
- Measurable: includes a measure you can track
- Achievable: sets a stretch goal that is challenging but realistic
- Result-oriented: addresses a problem your team can influence
- Time-scheduled: states when you expect to achieve the change.
Set a stretch goal
A good aim statement sets a stretch goal: aspirational, achievable, but difficult. Stretch goals push your team to think about systemic change rather than small adjustments.
Stay focused on the original aim through the project. Be prepared to refocus the aim if your team learns something that significantly changes the picture.
Examples of strong aim statements
A strong aim statement names a measurable change, a target and a timeframe. Examples that will stretch a team to achieve improvement:
- Within 12 months, decrease the rate of infections following joint replacement surgery to less than 1%.
- Within 3 months, decrease unnecessary non-sterile glove use by 30%.
- Within 8 months, decrease the number of admissions with a primary diagnosis of asthma by 50%.
Avoid aim statements that name the solution rather than the goal. For example, "Introduce an appendicectomy protocol in Paediatrics" describes the action your team will take. It does not say what outcome you want to improve, by how much, or by when.
Prepare your team
Agreement on the aim is easier to reach when your team has relevant information before or at the first meeting. Useful baseline data may include:
- admission rates
- infection rates
- length of stay
- other process measures relevant to your topic.
At this stage, also consider whether you need to add team members with knowledge or experience of the problem. To keep the team workable, you can co-opt extra members for specific expertise as needed.
Environmental impact
Consider the positive and negative environmental impacts of achieving your aim and look for opportunities to support the environment where possible.
Thinking about environmental impact at this stage helps you:
- gain support from people affected by the change
- avoid unintended consequences
- identify other improvement opportunities.
If you identify significant environmental impacts, contact your local sustainability lead.
More about Environmental sustainability in quality improvement