Getting Started with AMI

The PQMD toolkit for aligned metrics and storytelling gives medical donation programs an actionable set of common resources to simplify, enhance, and align data collection and reporting to demonstrate impact. AMI builds on the outputs and extensive data already being collected by donation programs.

AMI is a practical shared starting point for measuring through programs, partnerships, services, and systems.

Organizations already measure a great deal: products delivered, shipments completed, facilities and communities reached, partners engaged, training provided, and other measures of scale and activity.

It has typically been difficult to measure beyond outputs because products are only one part of care, the data sit across multiple partners, and health outcomes take time to emerge.

The Aligned Metrics Initiative is a practical framework for organizations involved in medical product donations to understand, improve, and communicate how donated products contribute to access and care.

AMI creates shared structure and at the same time respects that donation programs have varying structure, operating models and purposes. It combines the information organizations already collect with a discreet number of shared outcome measures, qualitative evidence, partner insight, and context. You choose how to leverage

It provides a practical place to start, and room to grow with focus on the evidence that is most useful.

These boundaries are a part of AMI by design.

Different programs have different products, partnerships, operating models, goals, resources, and access to data. Everyone will not measure the same metrics and programs may reasonably contribute to and be able to measure one, two, or all three areas.

AMI is designed to help each program identify what it can measure credibly and usefully. A program with limited downstream visibility may begin largely with existing outputs and selected outcome evidence. Another with long-standing partnerships and repeated data may be able to measure change over time. Both approaches can be credible and valuable.

Begin with a meaningful question, measures that are realistic for your program and partners, and relevant to your strategy. Build from a smaller start and expect measurement can strengthen over time.

The seven AMI modules build on one another and can be used flexibly. Technical detail sits primarily in the metric cards, tools, and supporting resources so modules are intentionally short and practical.

Use what applies to your program and informs the decisions you need to make.

AMI was designed to strengthen program-level outcome measurement among partners, while recognizing that many organizations in this space also contribute to national and regional access efforts; over time, the framework is intended to connect with and complement those broader efforts where useful.

Globally, medical donations are carried out by a range of program types, that all aim to fill gaps in procurement for necessary products. Donation programs provide essential benefits and generate impact regardless of their size, depth, or particular product mix. Collaboratively accomplished by corporate donors, NGO distributors, and NGO program implementers, and local partners medical donation programs collectively identify needs, source products, and carry out the logistical operations to deliver needed products to where they are needed and can be utilized for patient care. As partnerships evolve, so do feedback systems which drive improved alignment between partners. This often leads to sustained and strengthened collaborations, and to increased expectations and improved systems

Metric selection comes next.

First comes a more important question.