Run Charts
Run charts are line graphs that help healthcare professionals visualize and interpret data over time. By plotting data points chronologically, they allow teams to identify trends, patterns, or unusual variations, guiding decisions for quality improvement and patient safety. Run charts help tell whether implemented changes are improving selected outcome(s).
When used in QI projects, run charts:
- Help assess whether interventions are having the desired effect by providing a visual of the data before and after a change.
- Can provide initial clues about the nature of variation in a process.
- Facilitate clear and concise communication of improvement efforts to stakeholders.
How do you create a run chart?
- Gather the data: Measure and record the process or outcome you want to improve over at least 10 time points.
- Plot the data: Enter your data into a run chart template (see resources below – we would need to add an excel document for this, example from ASQ ).
- Y-axis: The metric being tracked (e.g., infection rates, patient wait times).
- X-axis: Unit of time the metric was measured (e.g., days, weeks, months).
- Include a centerline (median): The middle value of the data set, providing a baseline for analysis.
- Analyze the chart:
- Look for trends (e.g., a consistent increase or decrease over time).
- Identify shifts (e.g., six or more consecutive points above or below the median).
- Spot runs (e.g., consecutive data points on the same side of the median).
- Take action:
- Investigate opportunities to improve.
- Monitor for sustained improvements over time.
QI Methods
IHI Model for Improvement, PDSA/PDCA
Problem Solving & Analysis
Data Analysis
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