Information

Shewhart's Theory for Statistical Process Control (SPC) requires a change in thinking from error detection to error prevention and has a number of benefits when applied to healthcare. Several of the benefits include patient focus, increased quality awareness, decisions based on data, implementing predictable healthcare processes, reduced costs, fewer errors resulting in increased patient safety, and improved processes that result in improved healthcare outcomes and better quality care. However, every process varies.

In SPC terminology, as it relates to a control chart, a "common cause variation" does not suggest that a process functions at a desirable or undesirable level, but whether the nature of the variation is stable or predictable within certain limits. A "special cause variation" is a negative finding, and any changes made in a healthcare organization should not be made until it identifies and eliminates special causes. A control chart will tell a healthcare organization if a variation is a common or special cause and how to approach an improvement process. If it is a special cause, the healthcare organization should investigate it and eliminate the variation, not change the process. If there is a common cause variation, the implementation of a process change is what will address the variation. Control charts will reveal whether the change was effective (Joshi et.al, 2014).

Prepare

• They relate to statistical process control, common cause, and special cause variation.
• Read the following situations and determine whether each situation is a common cause variation or a special cause variation:
• Dispensing the wrong medication to a patient
• Dispensing the correct medication several hours after it was supposed to be dispensed

a cohesive response to the following:

• Describe each situation as either being a common cause variation or a special cause variation. For both situations, apply data-collection and statistical tools to measure and explain the rationale for your determination.
• Analyze each example of common cause error or special cause error.
• Explain any ethical, legal, or moral obligations that would support your rationale.
• Narrative seamlessly without numbering or bullet points.

USE THESE RESOURCES TO ANSWE QUESTIONS

• Joshi, M. S., Ransom, S. B., Ransom, E. R., & Nash, D. B. (Eds.). (2023). The healthcare quality book: Vision, strategy, and toolsLinks to an external site. (5th ed.). Health Administration Press.
  • Chapter 4, "Statistical Tools for Quality Improvement" (pp. 95-137)
  • Chapter 8, "Quality Measurement: Measuring What Matters" (pp. 223-241)
• Pelletier, L. R., & Beaudin, C. L. (2024). HQ solutions: Resource for the healthcare quality professional (5th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Section 2, "Quality Review and Accountability" (pp. 83-90)
  • Section 6, "Health Data Analytics" (pp. 309-371)
• Kachalia, A. (2013). Improving patient safety through transparencyLinks to an external site.. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(18), 1677-1679. https://doi.org/1056/NEJMp1303960

Write the topics. Avoid writing descriptions and meanings of concepts and/or topics. Presentation should be written in a seamless narrative. Discuss! Avoid numbering and bullet points. A colloquial (informal) form of writing minimizes your contributions to the topic.

Do not write in the first person, that is, "I", "us", or "we", etc. Use fewer and fewer quotes. Paraphrase and cite entire source. Using an author on multiple citations in a paragraph or work is acceptable.

Every notation in your Reference List should be seen in the body of work. It goes the other way, too. In-text citation should be seen in your Reference List.