Introduction
Statit Software provides a family of continuous
quality improvement (CQI) solutions targeted
for the healthcare community. Our solutions
are highly customizable and our staff is skilled
at helping healthcare providers adapt these
solutions to support statistical and quality
analysis initiatives, regardless of whether
they are philosophically based on TQM, CPI,
or Six Sigma.
What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a business
process improvement methodology capable of increasing
positive outcomes. The concept is widely perceived
to be an excellent approach to enterprise quality
improvement initiatives. It is designed for
setting goals and standards that would not have
been considered possible more than a decade
ago.
On the other hand, it is also important to
remember Six Sigma as a methodology relies on
tried-and-true statistical tools that have been
used by quality practitioners for decades. These
tools include, for example, control charts,
normality plots, process capability indices,
histograms, Pareto charts, tests of statistical
inference, Analysis of Variance, etc. Statit
Software has been providing customers with tools
appropriate for Six Sigma quality initiatives
since our solutions were commercialized more
than 25 years ago.
Analysis
Statit incorporates a full suite of traditional
analytical tools. For example, control charts
for variables are used when the process under
study concerns quality characteristics that
are measured. Examples of this type of analysis
would be used for the total number of procedures,
length of stay, time to see a physician, etc.
Statit provides the following charts that are
used in these situations:
Variable Charts
| Chart Type |
Description |
| X-bar |
Calculates and displays subgroup
averages |
| R |
Calculates and displays subgroup
ranges |
| s |
Calculates and displays subgroup
standard deviations |
| Individual |
Displays each value |
| Median |
Calculates and displays subgroup
medians |
| Moving Average |
Calculates and displays the
moving average of subgroups |
| Moving Range |
Calculates and displays the
moving range of subgroups |
| Cumulative Sum |
Calculates and displays a
run-sum or V-mask chart |
| Process Capability |
Calculates and displays a
histogram of data |
| Process Capability Analysis |
Calculates and displays a
histogram of data for non-normal data |
Attribute charts are used when the
process under study concerns quality characteristics
that are observed as either meeting some specified
requirements or failing to meet the requirements.
Examples of this would include incomplete admissions
forms, patient falls or many of the Core Measures.
Statit provides the following charts for these
situations:
| Chart Type |
Description |
| C |
Used for total number of defects |
| NP |
Used for the number rejected |
| P |
Used for fraction or percent
rejected |
| U |
Used for defects per unit |
| Cumulative Sum |
Displays a function of defects
per unit |
| Pareto |
Displays ordered bar chart |
Statit further provides descriptive statistics,
such as the mean or histograms and inferential
statistics, such as hypothesis testing and forecasting.
These include:
Fishbone diagrams, also referred to as Cause
and Effect, and Ishikawa diagrams, are used
to graphically display factors which contribute
to a particular "problem" or characteristic
under study. Bar charts, Box-plots, histograms
and a variety of other analysis tools are also
incorporated into Statit. There can be no doubt
that Statit includes tools that can be appropriately
applied in support of any Six Sigma program.
Reporting
Perhaps we should focus on how Six Sigma efforts
stress the importance of searching for new ways
of thinking. How instead of focusing on building
skill levels within a separate quality department,
Six Sigma initiatives attempt to put quality
tools into the hands of large numbers of workers
and managers throughout an organization. This
is what Statit does best! After all, Statit
was explicitly designed to support the easy
construction of standardized reports and metrics
and to rapidly communicate those results to
others throughout an organization.
Only a web browser is needed to access Statit
for basic use or administration. There is no
need to install and maintain application pieces
on everyone's desktop.
Statit can also accommodate users with different
analytical needs and levels of expertise. For
example, a Statit administrator can build a
view for a specific user (CMO) or a group of
users (Nursing) to meet their specific responsibilities.
Additionally, individual users can create their
own scorecard from a list of all public indicators
for view. Six Sigma is all about Design, Measure,
Analyze, Interpret and Control. Statit designed
its product to help our customers utilizing
Six Sigma with each of these "spokes on
the wheel".
As an example, Statit provides a process expert
with the requisite functionality to dynamically
create corrective action plans and to measure
and monitor the effectiveness of the plan against
desired results. This type of accountability
is a requirement for continuous quality improvement.
Low Cost / High Value
Statit is a flexible, quality solution. Anyone
who is familiar with a point-and-click environment
can use Statit to create customized reports,
menus and forms. No HTML or other web development
skills are required. There is no long-term need
for IT involvement or highly specialized programming
skills. Statit Software's customers have been
able to begin producing quality improvement
reports in a matter of minutes and continued
to improve and expand their quality reporting
on a continuous basis as they understand more
and more how Statit can contribute greatly to
their "quality journey". With Statit,
you are only limited by your creativity in applying
the solution.
If you would like additional information, please
contact a Statit expert at (800) 478-2892 or
send email to
. For examples of how Statit is used in healthcare,
please click on the following link: piMD.statit.com.
