Flash Sterilization Rate
The problem is about the infection rates increase in the surgical patients due to the use of flash sterilization in operation theatres. Flash utilizations per 100 surgeries are plotted against a week. The average value in the baseline period was 33 infections per 100 surgeries. The average value increased to 50 infections per 100 surgeries as soon as some new surgeons have arrived. The chosen chart is used due of its ability to identify the hospital baseline rate as well as the rate after the new surgeons’ influx. Special cause variation is identified as the cluster of newly employed orthopedic surgeons. The interpretation of the control chart helps the representatives of the IC committee to make a decision and look into the process of handling the surgical instruments with confidence.
Laboratory Turn Around Time
The clinicians of the A&E department complain on TAT and the necessity to gain control over blood counts. The mean and SD TAT are calculated on a daily basis so that the standard deviation in minutes is plotted against the day shift routine orders. The average time taken is 45 minutes. TAT data tend to tag along a normal distribution. The control charts are the X-bar and S. Common cause variation is based on the consistent performance of the process. The interpretation of the control chart makes the team consider the implementation of improvement strategies with the main objective of reducing the variation and lowering the mean TAT.
Surgical Site Infections
The reduction of surgical site infection during the period that follows surgery for some of the surgical procedures is considered. The number of cases between surgical site infections is plotted against the infection number. The average rate is about 2.1%. G type of control chart is used due to its ability to evaluate the statistical significance of each occurrence of an infection. Special cause variation is not identified. The results help the team to realize that the usage of the shave preparation technique to prepare for a surgical site prior to surgery is effective indeed.
Appointment Access Satisfaction
The problem is the enhancement of appointment access by means of tracking the measures related to a performance. The number of patients with satisfied or excellent responses is plotted against the month. The average number of patients with very satisfied or excellent responses is about 4%. P control chart based on the binomial distribution is used because of its ability to monitor the sustainability of improvements. The special cause variation is the existing appointment access satisfaction decrease rate. Based on the interpretation of the control chart, the staff implemented several changes to improve appointment access satisfaction.
Infectious Waste Monitoring
The use of the control charts in monitoring of infectious waste can be attributed to the deficiency of standardization and resulted in the additional time and money being used up by the health care facility in disposing infectious waste. The average pounds of waste per day are plotted against the month. The average value of the case is about 3.2 kg. The XmR chart is used as it is based on the normal distribution and its usefulness in testing the impact of efforts helps to reduce the average daily production of infectious waste. The case does not identify special cause variation. The team reduces the mean amount of waste on the basis of the information provided by the control chart.