Data reporting using run charts

Data reporting using run charts

At every team meeting, specific aims should be reviewed and progress towards these aims should be presented to the group.  The best way to do this is with a graph. Especially when presenting performance within the institution’s reporting structure, graphical formats will be more effective than denser tabular format.

There are two ways the team can graph improvement data to follow trends over time: the run chart and the statistical process control (SPC) chart. While SPC charts offer advantages, run charts are easier to make and usually adequate.

Run charts simply plot performance data over time. Compared to tables of data, run charts offer a quicker picture of how an intervention is working relative to a baseline. Run charts should be annotated along the x-axis where new interventions or events occur. This little addition can make it easier to see the effects of different stages of an intervention – or to subtract the effect of known secular trends. For run charts, ubiquitous software (Excel© or any of several free online run chart applications) is available and no statistical expertise is needed.

For QI projects, monthly plots are usually adequate, although when testing new or revised improvement strategies via PDSA, weekly plots may be desirable in order to see effects sooner.