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PDSA cycle for missed follow-up — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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HardEthics, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Systems-Based PracticePDSA cycle for missed follow-upUSMLE Step 3

A clinic reviews 12 months of data and finds that patients discharged after myocardial infarction often miss follow-up appointments because calls are made during work hours. The team wants to reduce missed appointments using a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. Which of the following is the most appropriate quality improvement measure?

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Correct answer: B — Test evening text-message reminders for a small patient group and measure attendance

A PDSA cycle uses a small, measurable test of change followed by evaluation and iteration. A targeted reminder intervention directly addresses the identified barrier.

Reference: Institute for Healthcare Improvement quality improvement methods