A hospital is concerned that the number of medication errors has increased significantly in the past year. A project revealed four causes of medication errors. The above chart was used to help staff and administration know where to focus efforts to reduce errors. Which process improvement tool is used in this situation?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Pareto chart. A Pareto chart is a quality improvement tool used to prioritize and focus efforts on the most significant causes of a problem. In this case, the hospital used the chart to identify the main causes of medication errors, helping them to allocate resources efficiently. The Pareto principle states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes, making it a powerful tool for process improvement.
A: Run chart is used to track data over time but does not prioritize causes like a Pareto chart.
C: Flowcharts are used to map out processes and are helpful for understanding the sequence of activities, not for prioritizing causes.
D: Cause-and-effect diagrams (Fishbone or Ishikawa diagram) are used to identify and organize potential causes of a problem but do not prioritize them like a Pareto chart.
In summary, the Pareto chart is the most appropriate tool in this situation because it helps focus efforts on the most significant causes