Practical Tools for Healthcare Quality

Practical Tools for Healthcare Quality is a handy guide that offers healthcare practitioners the tools they need to improve every process, from decreasing ER wait-time to improving delivery of medications, reducing infection rates, and enhancing quality of service to patients. It includes 20 tools with ample case studies and examples. Each of the following tools is presented in an easy 7-step adult-learning format.

The contents include:

• Affinity Diagram
• Capability Analysis
• Cause and Effect
• Check Sheet
• Control Charts
  • XR- Control Chart
  • X-MR Control Chart
  • NP-Control Chart
  • P-Control Chart
  • C-Control Chart
  • U-Control Chart
• Control Chart Interpretation
• Flow chart
• Force Field Analysis
• Histogram
• Operational Definition
• Pareto Chart
• Run Chart
• Sampling
• Scatter Diagram
• Glossary

A case study section illustrates how to apply specific statistical and problem-solving tools to questions that arise in healthcare settings. This then points the way for further analysis based on solid data rather than seat-of-the-pants decision-making.

Case Studies

• C Chart - Are the Number of Our Surgical Complications Getting Worse?
• U Chart - Is Our Pediatric Head Trauma Incidence Getting Better?
• P Chart - Is the No Show Process Stable?
• NP Chart - Are Central Line Infection Rates Stable?
• XR Chart - What is our baseline performance for patient waiting time?