The Eight Components of the Framework
The ACS Quality Framework is broken down into 38 criteria across eight components and is designed to help you ensure your projects are comprehensive and effective. While it is not a methodology, it can be used in tandem with any quality improvement methodology.
The Framework components and criteria are organized around three phases of quality improvement projects: Planning, Conducting, and Reflecting. Below you will see how the components are spread across these three phases.
The Quality Framework Toolkit and Other Related Resources
The Quality Framework Toolkit is a set of tools and resources for planning, conducting, and documenting your quality improvement project. While none of these tools and resources are required, we encourage you to use them as you work on your quality improvement projects. As a part of the Quality Framework Toolkit, you have access to the following:
- The Quality Framework: A document containing descriptions of the Framework components and definitions of each of the criteria.
- The Quality Framework Notetaking Tool: A variation of the Quality Framework that contains an additional column for you and your team to take notes as you work your way through the criteria in the Framework.
- Project Charter: A tool designed to help you and your team document a subset of criteria that could be used in your quality improvement projects. Although it should be written at the beginning of a project, a charter is not a static document. It should be referenced throughout the duration of a quality improvement project and updated as needed.
- Data Plan: A tool your team can use to strategize how, why, where, and when you will collect the data for the outcome, process, structure, and balancing measures you identified in your project charter, as well as who will be responsible for collecting that data. A data plan is like a project charter, except it is specific to the data component of your project.
- Communication Plan: A tool designed to help you document criteria related to stakeholder engagement. It defines what information should be communicated, who should receive it, and when and how it should be delivered. The document should be regularly updated and referenced by team members to ensure effective and timely communication.
Access the Quality Framework and the Framework Toolkit.
