The NHS Safety Thermometer 10 Steps to Success Series!

1
The NHS Safety Thermometer10 Steps to Success
Series!

• Step 9
• Making Graphs

2
Analysis functions in the Safety Thermometer

• Charts can help you analyse the data in the
  Safety Thermometer

3
Analysis functions in the Safety Thermometer

• Choose which area you are interested in from the
  menu on the right of the charts screen

4
How are the charts laid out?

5
Why line charts?

• Viewing data as a line chart over time is the
  best way to see if your improvement efforts have
  made a difference
• Simple plots of data are more powerful and
  quicker to interpret than complex statistics

6
What should I look for?

• Look for trends rather than absolute values
• See if patterns have changed when you have
  implemented improvements
• Explore the data
• View your data by harm
• Are there differences in trends between age
  groups, or gender, or different wards?
• Ask questions of the data, test your expectations
• Get others to ask questions of the data

7
How else can I get value out of these charts?

• Print and scribble!
• Discuss with colleagues
• Display them prominently
• Use them in improvement discussions and as
  evidence for where improvement may be needed

Julie Jones, Patient Safety Lead, Birmingham
Community Health Care NHS Trust