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Improving Healthcare with Control Charts: Basic and Advanced SPC Methods and Case Studies by Raymond G. Carcy. ASQ Quality Press, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2003. xxix + 194 pp. $45.00 (ASQ Members $35.00).
THIS book is similar in a number of respects to Hart and Hart (2003), which was reviewed by Nelson (2003). The purpose of both books is to promote the general use of statistical thinking, particularly control charting, in improving the quality of healthcare. This is certainly an important topic and one likely to interest many JQT readers.
Carey states in the Preface that his principal audience is those who have some basic knowledge of the theory and tools of statistical process control (SPC) and want to move to a more advanced level. Readers of JQT, however, will likely find the methods described in the book to be rather basic, based entirely on the use of Shewhart-type charts.
In contrast to Hart and Hart (2002), Carey gives no control chart formulas. he states that control charts are generated most efficiently using computer software. He recommends some software packages, but does not discuss the use of any particular software. Hart and Hart (2002), on the other hand, have real data sets available at a website and provide instructions on the use of Statit and MINITAB. Both books contain many case studies and examples. It is interesting to note that Hart and Hart (2002) thanked Carey for providing assistance on five of their case studies.
In the Introduction, Carey covers issues related to healthcare measurement and the different constituencies who have a stake in wanting healthcare quality to be assessed and improved. This background information would be required for anyone in the quality field wanting to move into healthcare improvement.
In Part I (Using Data for Improvement: Basic SPC Theory and Methods), Carey covers some of the basics of SPC, stressing the importance of operational definitions, the Plan/Do/Study/Act cycle and the importance of plotting over time data that are collected over time. Hc covers the run chart and the Shcwhart control charts used throughout the book, i.e., the p-chart, the c-chart, the u-chart, the X-bar and S-charts, and the I-chart.
There are a few technical errors in the first two chapters. On page 5, the concept of...