Quality Improvement Measurement and Data Interpretation

Measurement and data analysis are fundamental components of quality improvement. Data are necessary to determine if changes are leading to improvements in processes and outcomes. The resources and tools below provide guidance on developing a sound quality improvement data strategy.

1. NICHQ - Why Data Collection is a Necessary Part of Quality Improvement: The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) briefly summarizes how data are used to inform quality improvement initiatives.
2. IHI Science of Improvement: Establishing Measures. This Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) resource provides information on quality improvement measurement, sampling, and basic data interpretation.
3. IHI Run Chart Tool: This IHI tool includes an Excel template and instructions for creating a run chart to display quality improvement data.
4. IHI Run Chart Rules Reference Sheet: This IHI resource provides succinct rules for interpreting run charts.
5. NICHQ - Introduction to Using Control Charts: This NICHQ resource provides an overview of control charts, a statistical tool for analyzing quality improvement data.