Measuring Quality Improvement in Healthcare: A Guide to Statistical Process Control Applications [Paperback]

Raymond G. Carey (Author), Robert C. Lloyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

This ground-breaking book addresses the critical, growing need among healthcare administrators and practitioners to measure the effectiveness of quality improvement efforts. Written by respected healthcare quality professionals, Measuring Quality Improvement in Healthcare covers practical applications of the tools and techniques of statistical process control (SPC), including control charts, in healthcare settings. The authors' straightforward discussions of data collection, variation, and process improvement set the context for the use and interpretation of control charts. Their approach incorporates "the voice of the customer" as a key element driving the improvement processes and outcomes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Many clinicians and other healthcare leaders underestimate the great contributions that better statistical thinking could make toward reducing costs and improving outcomes. This fascinating and timely book is a fine guide for getting started." -- Donald M. Berwick, M.D., President and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

"One of the most lucid, systematic, and useful resources on the market."

- Stephen M. Shortell, Ph.D.
A.C. Buehler Distinguished Professor of Health Services Management
Professor of Organizational Behavior
J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
Northwestern University -- Stephen M. Shortell, Ph.D., A.C. Buehler Distinguished Professor of Health Services Management, Professor of Organizational Behavior

"Only authors who have used statistics and control charts to solve real-world healthcare problems could have written a book so practical and timely." -- Barry S. Bader, Publisher, The Quality Letter for Healthcare Leaders

About the Author

Raymond G. Carey, Ph.D., is director of Surgical Research at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL, and president emeritus of Parkside Associates, Inc., a healthcare survey and research firm. He is co-author of Program Evaluation: Methods and Case Studies.

Robert C. Lloyd, Ph.D., senior consultant, Quality Resource Services, Advocate Health Care, worked for 10 years in directorial positions at the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania and directed the American Hospital Association's Quality Measurement and Management Project in 1989 and 1990.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: Amer Society for Quality; 1st edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0527762938
• ISBN-13: 978-0527762933
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Hospital Administration
  • #66 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Health Care Delivery
  • #96 in Books > Medical Books > Administration & Medicine Economics > Public Health

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the right audience, January 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Measuring Quality Improvement in Healthcare: A Guide to Statistical Process Control Applications (Paperback)

This book does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the concept of applying Statistical Process Control. Through a great number of mini case studies it shows a number of possible applications. Probably more importantly it amply demonstrates the when to be concerned and when to continue monitoring the situation before reacting.

This is NOT a technical book. The few formulae that are presented are relegated to a small appendix and are virtually unusable. This makes the book more suitable for administrators than for quants.

People actually conducting the studies will not find what they need in terms of formulae. They will find what they need to understand which type of chart is appropriate and how to interpret the results.

Ideally the authors should have included software to actually do the calculations. This would have allowed the non-technical people to actually do their own studies rather than just interpet what others have done.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific intro to Statistical Process Control, May 16, 2003

By 

Benjamin R. Pflederer (Morton, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Measuring Quality Improvement in Healthcare: A Guide to Statistical Process Control Applications (Paperback)

As a physician who is becoming more involved with quality control, I found this to be an outstanding introduction to the concepts of statistical process control. The abundant practical examples provide a guide as to how these principles can be used effectively in the health care setting. I recommend Carey's book to anyone who wants to get serious about managing the process of quality in healthcare -- I'm buying another copy to share with my staff!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Healthcare Quality, March 19, 2009

By 

M. Johnston (Las Vegas, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Measuring Quality Improvement in Healthcare: A Guide to Statistical Process Control Applications (Paperback)

This is a good book to introduce health care workers to statistical use of health related data using control charts and basic principles of statistic analysis. Good because it is not the usual text based on manufacturing. Most healthcare folks have a hard time seeing the use of measuring "widgets".