Mini course · Advanced level
Run Charts & Statistical Process Control
Stop reacting to every rise and fall in your data. Learn to tell real change from normal variation.
What is Run Charts & Statistical Process Control?
Every healthcare process varies: waiting times, infection rates and falls go up and down from week to week. Statistical process control (SPC) helps teams distinguish common-cause variation, which is part of the system, from special-cause variation that signals something has really changed. This course covers run chart rules, the main control chart types, choosing the right chart for your data, calculating control limits, interpreting signals and using SPC to evaluate improvement work, all with healthcare datasets in Excel.
- Duration
- 1.8 hours
- Lessons
- 5
- Level
- Advanced
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Distinguish common-cause from special-cause variation
- Apply run chart rules to detect shifts, trends and astronomical points
- Select the appropriate control chart for a described type of data
- Construct a control chart and calculate control limits in Excel
- Interpret signals on a control chart and decide on an appropriate response
- Use SPC to judge whether an improvement has been sustained
Who this course is for
Course content
5 lessons · 1.8 hours total · free preview available
1Understanding Variation
20 minFree preview· Course content
Understanding Variation
Common-cause and special-cause variation, and why it matters.
2Run Charts and Their Rules
22 min· Course content
Run Charts and Their Rules
Available after you enroll.
3Choosing the Right Control Chart
22 min· Course content
Choosing the Right Control Chart
Available after you enroll.
4Building Control Charts in Excel
24 min· Course content
Building Control Charts in Excel
Available after you enroll.
5Acting on Signals
22 min· Course content
Acting on Signals
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
Every AIHCM credential has a unique ID that anyone can verify online in seconds.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 5 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Do I need a statistics background?
Basic Excel and arithmetic are enough. Healthcare KPIs & Dashboards or Quality Improvement in Practice are helpful first steps.
Is special software required?
No. All charts are built in Excel using the templates provided.
What is the difference between a run chart and a control chart?
A run chart uses the median and simple rules; a control chart adds statistically calculated control limits for more sensitive analysis.
Why shouldn't we react to every change in the numbers?
Reacting to normal variation wastes effort and can make performance worse. SPC tells you when a change is real.