Gap Analysis Tool Adapted from AHRQ

INSTRUCTIONS

Gap Analysis Tool Adapted from AHRQ

What is this tool? The purpose of the gap analysis is to provide project teams with a format in which to do the following:

• Compare the best practices with the processes currently in place in your organization. • Determine the “gaps” between your organization’s practices and the identified best

practices. • Select the best practices you will implement in your organization.

Who are the target audiences? The project liaison (you will serve as the liaison for this assignment) will be the primary individual to prepare this written gap analysis, but the entire improvement project team should be engaged in performing the gap analysis. How can the tool help you? Upon completion of the gap analysis, project teams will have the following:

• An understanding of the differences between current practices and best practice. • An assessment of the barriers that need to be addressed before successful implementation

of best practices.

How does this tool relate to others? Information from AHRQ’s Self-Assessment (Tool A.3) about the readiness of the hospital/practice setting to perform quality improvement for the Quality Indicators or Best/Evidence-based practices can be considered in the gap analysis as possible strengths or weaknesses (i.e., barriers) to be managed when implementing improvements. The best practice elements defined in the Selected Best Practices and Suggestions for Improvement (Tool D.4) are prefilled in the gap analysis tool. This provides the elements for the Implementation Plan (Tool D.6). Instructions

1. List the identified practice problem in Column 1. 2. In Column 2, provide a description of identified best practices (3 best practices required) to address the problem 4. In Column 3, identify barriers that may hinder successful implementation of each best practice strategy. Consider systems, procedures, policies, people (i.e. stakeholders), equipment, etc. 5. In Column 4, discuss your thoughts on whether your organization will implement that best practice strategy. If not, explain why. 6. Repeat steps 1-4 for each best practice.

Gap Analysis Tool (as adapted from AHRQ’s Tool D-5)

Improvement Project: _____________________ Quality Indicator/Practice Metric: ____________________________

Individual Completing This Form: ______________________________

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

How Your Practices Differ From Best Practice (describe the practice problem you have identified for this improvement process)

Best Practice Strategies (what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem)

Barriers to Best Practice Implementation (this could be actual or anticipated/potential barriers)

Will Implement Best Practice (considering the barriers you identified – discuss whether you believe the identified best practices could/would be implemented)

Best Practice #1: [insert description of best practice here]

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

How Your Practices Differ From Best Practice (describe the practice problem you have identified for this improvement process)

Best Practice Strategies (what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem)

Barriers to Best Practice Implementation (this could be actual or anticipated/potential barriers)

Will Implement Best Practice (considering the barriers you identified – discuss whether you believe the identified best practices could/would be implemented)

Best Practice #2: [insert description of best practice here]

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

How Your Practices Differ From Best Practice (describe the practice problem you have identified for this improvement process)

Best Practice Strategies (what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem)

Barriers to Best Practice Implementation (this could be actual or anticipated/potential barriers)

Will Implement Best Practice (considering the barriers you identified – discuss whether you believe the identified best practices could/would be implemented)

Best Practice #3: [insert description of best practice here]

1. Improvement Project:
2. Quality IndicatorPractice Metric:
3. Individual Completing This Form:
4. Column 1:
5. Column 2:
6. Column 3:
7. Column 4:
8. Best Practice Strategies what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem:
9. Column 1_2:
10. Column 2_2:
11. Column 3_2:
12. Column 4_2:
13. Best Practice Strategies what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem_2:
14. Column 1_3:
15. Column 2_3:
16. Column 3_3:
17. Column 4_3:
18. Best Practice Strategies what a review of the literature indicates is a best practice approach that you could implement to address the problem_3:
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