The skills associated with using data for
improvement vary widely among those
working to improve healthcare. We describe
a simple analytical tool commonly used by
professionals in quality improvement, but
underutilised in healthcaredthe run chart.1
For those health professionals that use run
charts, they provide a valuable source of
information and learning for both practitioner
and patient. The following scenario
described by Neuhauser and Diaz2 provides
one example of the simplicity of run charts
and their potential for wide application in
healthcare: