Statistical Process Control Charts to Improve Health Care: Hypertension Case

Established national standards for patient care safety and quality help hold health care systems accountable and ensure the delivery of consistent, impactful medical care across diverse clinical settings from acute care to ambulatory care, skilled nursing facilities, and home care.^1–3 These standards encourage the implementation of quality improvement practices that continuously monitor patient outcomes to illuminate inefficiencies and areas for targeted intervention. The development of effective methods for data management and interpretation remains crucial to capturing relevant, insightful process-related information.^4–6 Furthermore, proper data analysis informs the iterative evaluation of quality and safety measures. But interpreting health data (such as from electronic medical records, health devices, and community-based organization reporting) can be challenging due to its sheer volume, complexity, and inconsistent standards. With the diversity of data present in health care systems, determining appropriate systems for monitoring and tracking care processes for quality improvement can prove challenging.⁷ Graphical tools, like charts, help visualize trends, identify gaps in quality measures, and track progress toward goals. Appropriate visual representations can be critical tools in improving the care delivery process, distinguishing random fluctuations from process-driven changes and deficiencies. However, understanding how to create such visual representations can be difficult.