QI Processes: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Displaying Data

This is an individual assignment. Using your group’s assigned case study (Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), create a cause-effect diagram or “fishbone” diagram. The fishbone diagram enables visualization of potential causes of a specific problem. This is part of your root cause analysis (RCA) you will include in your final report. Be sure you understand how and where this aspect fits. Using root cause analysis techniques in clinical audit* is one resource that defines and describes the fishbone diagram. The Quality Improvement Essentials Toolkit* contains instructions and a template for creating your fishbone diagram (see “Cause and Effect Diagram” on IHI website).

*Item found in QI Project Resources

In your initial post, you should include the following:

• Fishbone diagram (i.e., cause and effect diagram)
• Provide a narrative describing all potential factors/causes contributing to the problem identified in your case study