MedGRAPH generates graphs on many MedSWIS report.  Graphing is automatic, and allows users to modify titles and subheadings before printing.  Graphs can also be exported and imbeded in the body of Word documents.  MedGRAPH also includes two automatic Quality Control Chart Graphs which are based upon the work of W. Edwards Deming.

CQI Module

MedSWIS Software answers the challenge of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Total Quality Management (TQM) with the fist automatic quality control charts for hospital social workers and discharge planners. The pioneering work of Dr. W. Edwards Deming was the basis upon which this software module was developed.

This module consists of three automatic quality control charts. Two of them measure timeliness of intervention, and a third measures bottleneck time. It also consists of a user defined control chart, so you can input hospital data and a control chart such as the one on the next page will be automatically generated. This module also comes with complete documentation.

"Improvement in quality begets naturally and inevitably improvement in productivity." W. Edwards Deming

The creation of statistical control charts is an essential tool to bring quality measures into statistical control and to begin the process of Continuous Quality Improvement. Measuring "timeliness of intervention" (the time from patient admission, or when the order was written, to when patients were seen by staff) is a critical quality measure. The MedSWIS CQI Module plots each case on a graph. You decide which nursing units are plotted. The software calculates the upper and lower control limits, along with "zone" lines for data, so the department manager can see where problems lie to begin the process of continuous quality improvement. In the figure below, and the example on the next page, you can clearly identify cases in each zone. From a statistical standpoint these zone lines are simply the first, second and third standard deviations.

Your strategy in dealing with variation depends upon which zone your data falls in. You must deal first with cases falling above the upper control limits since cases in this area are "worker caused variation". Cases falling between the upper control limit and lower control limit are "system caused variation". The manager looks for "trends" in various nursing units to focus their attention when data falls between these two lines. Over time variation approaches the Mean, and the Mean itself will decrease. This is the process of continuous quality improvement from a statistical point of view.

These Timeliness of Intervention control charts are complemented by another control chart that plots "bottlenecks" staff are encountering that keep them from doing their jobs. In the MedSWIS CQI Module staff estimates of bottleneck time per case are input at the point of patient discharge. You can generate a control chart for any combination of nursing units you want over any period of time that you want. The resulting control chart will show you where to begin the process of identifying bottlenecks and correcting them.

The MedSWIS CQI Module also has a User Defined Control Chart. You can input hospital data, such as patient delay days or "critical pathway" data, and generate a graph similar to the one above. All you do is type in raw data and MedSWIS does the rest automatically for you! This simple tool will not only be used by you, but once other department managers hear of your new found skills you will become the resident expert on Continuous Quality Improvement Control Charts!

Our philosophy in creating the MedSWIS CQI Module is simple. There is no purpose in going to the expense and trouble of computerizing your department unless it helps you manage better and helps your hospital increase profits!