Documentation Tools

Storyboards
Storyboards are a useful tool for effectively presenting a team’s work to a
variety of audiences — to other groups within the organization, to other
organizations, and to the larger community. The aim of a storyboard is to
create an attractive display that will draw observers to your storyboard and
communicate clearly the main points of your display. Creativity should be used
in poster design, but care must be taken to make the display understandable in
a brief period of time. Complex charts or tables will diminish the viewer’s
ability to rapidly comprehend your work and should be avoided. Likewise,
presenting too much information overwhelms the reader and diminishes the
impact of the display.

This tool contains:

Directions for Creating Storyboards
Sample Storyboard Formats

1 Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Copyright © 2004 Institute for Healthcare Improvement
 Storyboards

Directions

ƒ Design for ease of comprehension and readability.

ƒ Include only critical information.
ƒ Keep it simple.
ƒ Make the purpose of the project readily apparent.
ƒ Concisely describe the changes that are being tested.
ƒ Display data over time using run charts. Remember to label graph axes (with the units of
the data being measured) and minimize uninformative information. It is often very helpful
to include brief annotations on the graph to indicate when specific changes were tested or
implemented.
ƒ Outline conclusions based upon data.
ƒ Present plans for implementation or further investigation.

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Copyright © 2004 Institute for Healthcare Improvement
 Storyboards

Sample Storyboard Format

[Organization Name, City, State, Country]

[Project Name]
Aim: (Put aim statement here.)
Measures: (List 3 to 5 key measures.)
Results: (Include one or two of the key graphs — be sure that sample size and goals are on the
graphs and that they are annotated.)

Change standard pain management, anesthesia,

20 and institute weaning protocol

18
16
14
12
Vent Hours

Mean = 5.2
10
8
6
4 Mean = 11.8
2
0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61

Nov. 00 Patient Number

Changes initiated 11/01

20 on elective CA Bs
18
16 Incorporate all
14
Vent hours

Elective CABs CABs

12
10
8
6
4 goal = < 6 hours
2
Dec -01

May-01

0
Feb-01

Mar-01
Jan-01

Apr-01

Jun-01

Jul-01
1998

1999

2000

2001

Changes Being Tested

ƒ Pain management: Revise standards for post-operative pain management. Have ICU
nurses administer smaller, more frequent doses of narcotics to avoid oversedation.
ƒ Anesthesia management: Standardize anesthesia protocol and sequencing.
ƒ Standardize extubation process: Establish nurse- and Respiratory Therapist-run rapid
weaning and extubation protocol
ƒ Data display: Post data in Open Heart Unit.
ƒ Spread of change: Spread changes to regional medical center with same results.

3
Copyright © 2004 Institute for Healthcare Improvement
 Storyboards

Sample Storyboard Format

[Organization Name, City, State, Country]

[Project Name]
Aim: (Put aim statement here.)
Measures: (List 3 to 5 key measures.)
Results: (Include one or two of the key graphs — be sure that sample size and goals are on the
graphs and that they are annotated.)

Average LOS for DRGs 104-108 (2000-2001)

10 Revise preprinted orders Revise patient pathway

Baseline 9
Jan-Sept
‘00 8
7
6
5
Revise clinical and
4 patient pathways Patient education A. fib
3 and family checklist protocol
Early AM
2 Data Display
transfer
1
0
Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Data plotted in 2 week intervals

Changes Being Tested

ƒ Revised process of post-operative weaning to achieve median extubation times of <6 hours.
ƒ ICU to floor transfer criteria placed in pre-printed orders later revised to include early
morning transfer from ICU.
ƒ Revised activity protocol for Cardiac Rehab.
ƒ Oxygen saturation requirement changed to 90%.
ƒ Revised patient and hospital pathway to reflect expected discharge on POD 3 or 4.
ƒ Developed Patient Checklist and Family and Friends Checklist to aid self-care while in
hospital and to educate patients and families of expected daily progress.
ƒ Developed atrial fibrillation protocol to standardize treatment and increase efficiency of
treatment process.
ƒ Developed home pathway after cardiac surgery to guide patient and family home care.

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Copyright © 2004 Institute for Healthcare Improvement