Using Data to Improve Organizational Processes

Chapters three and four of the Measuring Health Care Quality textbook concentrate on methods to collect data and to use this data to improve an organizational process. Both chapters provide several case studies to demonstrate this process. Consider the quality process called PDCA (Plan Do Check Act) cycle. From your own work experience or work within an health care organization, consider other situations where data may be collected and used to improve an organizational process.

• Provide your own unique case study of a process that could be improved within your own organization.
• Discuss what types of data would need to be collected and how that data would be used to seek improvements.
• Provide your post following the Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) method.

If you are not employed, feel free to search the databases for real cases that have used the PDCA method to improve a specific process, and use those to complete the bulleted list of instructions above.