In individual situations, the basic steps to follow are: ​
  1. Identify the key question
  2. Get the facts straight:
    • what do we know for sure?
    • what don’t we know that we can find out?
    • what information can’t we know?
  3. Identify what matters
  4. Prioritize – what should matter most?
  5. Consult others
  6. Brainstorm possible choices
  7. Analyze options to see which best live up to what should matter most
  8. Make a decision – and put it into action
  9. Reflect and learn from your choices

Detailed Version: Ethics for Everyone

For more detailed versions of this decision-making tool, see the Ethics for Everyone sections of the website.

Ethics for Everyone

Detailed Version: Clinicians

For more detailed versions of this decision-making tool, see the Clinicians sections of the website.

Clinicians

Basic Tool: Individual Situations​

To help you get started on the path to making better decisions, here is a basic tool that can be used when making individual decisions.

This is a one page worksheet where one can capture the basic elements of a discussion. It can be used to help organize your thoughts when thinking through an issue. (Microsoft Word required)

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Decisions that impact groups of people require better conversations, more careful articulation, greater engagement and more thorough follow up.
  1. Establish the Team
  2. Select the Key Question(s)
  3. Look at the Evidence
  4. Consider What’s Important
    • Synthesize Values (optional)
  5. Brainstorm Options
  6. Analyze Options
  7. Articulate a Preliminary Decision
  8. Engage Others
  9. Make the Decision
  10. Develop a Communication Strategy
  11. Develop an Education Plan
  12. Develop a Downstream Support Plan
  13. Develop and Evaluation & Sustainability Plan
  14. Develop an Ongoing Feedback Plan
  15. Implement the Decision

Detailed Version: Leaders

For more comprehensive direction and tools regarding system-level decisions, see the Leaders section of the website.

Leaders

Basic Tool: Group / System-Level Decisions​

To help you get started on the path to making better group decisions, here is a fill-able form that can be used as a basic process for making system-level decisions. (Microsoft Word required)

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