In order to detect problems and monitor improvement work in health care, it is necessary to have high-quality, real-time information. This session will present a practical method of using monthly hospital standardized mortality ratios (HSMRs) and SMRs for individual diagnoses and practical ways for organizations to use them, including use of web-based Statistical Process Control charts.

After this presentation you will be able to:

• Describe the need for real-time analysis and how it can be used to improve the quality of health care.
• Articulate how HSMRs and SMRs are calculated.
• Explain the use of real-time SPC charts.