Outcome Measures
Outcome measures tell a team whether the changes it is making are actually leading to improvement — that is, helping to achieve the stated aim. For example, 50 percent reduction in delays in surgery, or 30 percent reduction waiting time in the doctor’s office.

Process Measures
Process measures tell a team whether a specific process change has been accomplished and whether it is having the intended effect. A team often establishes several process measures in the course of its work. The assumption is that improvement in a process measure will have an eventual impact on the outcome measure. For example, a process measures might be the accuracy of registration information or the availability of x-rays at the time of the physician’s exam.

Balancing Measures
Use these measures to make sure that changes to improve one part of the system aren’t causing new problems in other parts of the system.

Click here for more information and general tips on Forming the Team, Setting Aims,  Selecting Changes, or Testing Changes.