Healthcare Update: Quality Tools and Applications

Welcome to Healthcare Update: Quality Tools and Applications. Each monthly edition features a specific tool and includes a template, how-to method or case study, with tips for use or accounts of how the tool could be used. This edition allows members of the ASQ community to share ideas and best practices for making the most of quality tools.

Spaghetti Diagram

A spaghetti diagram is a visual representation using a continuous flow line tracing the path of an item or activity through a process. The continuous flow line enables process teams to identify redundancies in the workflow and opportunities to expedite process flow. The diagram in this example reflects a study done by a health department administrative office. The intent of the study was to identify ways to shorten the walking time from one activity to another for a frequently performed task. Learn more.

 Additional Resources

• Process Analysis Tools: Spaghetti diagram definition.
• "Lean Kaizen in the 21st Century," Quality Progress article.
• "Transactional Kaizen," Annual Quality Congress Proceedings article.
• "Baxter International Wins Team Excellence Award Competition," Journal for Quality and Participation article. (Please note: The three articles above will be available to Healthcare Update: Tools and Applications readers until March 31.)
• Lean for Service Organizations and Offices: A Holistic Approach for Achieving Operational Excellence and Improvements, book. Preview a sample chapter.
• Mapping Work Processes, second edition, book. Preview a sample chapter.

Have a Tool or Application to Submit?

Is there a specific tool, template or how-to method you’ve used to obtain better results or make processes more efficient? If so, submit it for consideration in Healthcare Update: Quality Tools and Applications.

Suggestions for submissions:

• Try using one of the downloadable tools or templates provided here. Write about how you used the template within a specific project for improved results. Or, offer an idea for improving or expanding the template. Look at the tools that have already been highlighted.
• Have you created your own quality tool template, one you can’t live without? Write a short description and instructions, and send it to us to consider for publication.
• Have you seen a particularly creative use of a quality tool in an unexpected setting? Tell us about it.
• What are your top three tips for using a particular quality tool successfully?

Submissions should be about 500 words. Please note: This newsletter is not intended to promote or sell products or services. To be considered for a future issue of Healthcare Update: Quality Tools and Applications, e-mail your tool or application to editor Nicole Adrian.

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