Root cause analysis, or RCA for short, is a technique for resolving issues in which the problem's underlying causes are found and addressed. The foundation of RCA is that a problem can be fixed more effectively by addressing its core causes than by merely addressing its symptoms. When a problem root is eradicated, the likelihood of reoccurring is also nearly eliminated. Root cause analysis is a recognized tool for "continuous improvement" in any situation and is often an iterative process to be most effective.
Following an issue or problem, root cause analysis is carried out. However, with enough repetition, it can develop into a proactive approach that enables early problem detection and prevention. The RCA technique incorporates various instruments, procedures, and ideas. You can typically go through this stage fast with careful planning. Below are the best four tools for RCA in healthcare:
- Cause-and-effect diagram
- Matrix illustration
- 5 why
- Analysis of fault trees
- Cause-and-effect diagram
The cause-and-effect chart tool's name sums up what it does: it examines correlations between a problem's causes and its effects in a chart.
It creates a powerful technique by fusing elements of rigorous analysis with brainstorming.
The instrument is sometimes referred to as an Ishikawa diagram after its creator. This tool's major objective,
in the context of root cause analysis as a whole, is to comprehend how an issue arises:
– Generate and organize the causes of problems.
– Identify the causes that are most likely to be the root causes by methodically evaluating each one.
This RCA tool is used to determine which process components are flawed so they may be fixed. It establishes how frequently the failure occurs, the steps taken by the organization to simplify the process to stop the failure from happening again, and whether or not interventions to enhance the process were successful. This tool is used by many businesses each time a new procedure is started.
Different Cause-and-Effect Analysis
Although the cause-and-effect chart has been described thus far as a single chart, there are at least two different kinds of cause-and-effect charts:
- A Fishbone diagram: is the conventional approach to creating such charts, resulting in a fishbone-shaped chart.
- A flowchart: More concentrated explicitly on analyzing issues with internal business processes. To address all probable root causes of performance that falls short of expectations, a fishbone chart is built for each process phase that is thought to generate issues. Individual charts are created, and then a group analysis is done to determine the most important causes.
The Actions Required To Use Cause-And-Effect Charts
- Clearly state the issue whose root causes are being investigated.
- Draw the issue at the right end of a sizable arrow on a whiteboard or other large surface.
Give room for the causes to emerge. Avoid aiming for symmetry and visual impacts. - List the primary categories of the issue's causes on the branches extending from the sizable arrow.
- Create a list of all potential reasons and write them in the chart's relevant area(s). Use precise, concise descriptions.
Move from one primary category to the next on the chart. Causes that fall under more than one category should be listed in all pertinent positions. - Examine the noted factors to ascertain the most likely underlying causes.
An Illustration Of How To Use A Cause-And-Effect Analysis
In the work of Bjørn Andersen and Tom Fagerhaug, the author of RCA simplified tools, the following practical application of Cause and Effects Analysis was related (https://journals.lww.com/jhqonline/Citation/2002/05000/Root_Cause_Analysis__Simplified_Tools_and.12.aspx) thus;
Employee absenteeism has been continuously high, particularly in the nursing and pharmacy departments. Due to inadequate care being provided at the appointed time and problems taking an unacceptable amount of time to resolve, this absenteeism cost the hospital much money and infuriated many patients.
The human resource manager and a few service team members used various problem-solving techniques in addition to other measures to ameliorate the situation. They first had a brainstorming session to produce numerous explanations for why absenteeism was so high, and then they used a cause-and-effect chart to assess these explanations.
Many ideas were created during the brainstorming session, some of which may have been more original and less practical than others. The group reviewed and organized the causes on the chart after classifying the concepts and choosing the most likely to be pertinent and treatable causes. The outcomes prompted the business to think about incentive programs, training initiatives, and upgrading the standard of the tools and equipment used by employees.
A Requirements List For Cause-And-Effect Charts
- Define and characterize the issue precisely to enable a focused analysis session.
- Draw a big arrow with the problem at the end on a whiteboard or other appropriate surface.
- Allow plenty of room when developing the chart to include numerous concepts and causes; don't worry about making your chart friendly at this point in the study.
- Define the primary causes and list them at the tips of "branches," heading in the direction of the big arrow.
- Based on brainstorming done when creating the chart or at a previous session, list potential sources of the issue along the relevant branches of the "fishbone."
- When writing the causes on the chart, keep your descriptions short and to the point.
- After allocating each cause to the proper branch or branches, analyze each group of reasons separately.
- Determine the most significant reasons and identify any potential underlying causes.
Follow step by step and the result will be great. Next will be the second tool for root cause analysis; the Matrix diagram.
Reference
- https://powerslides.com/powerpoint-diagrams/fishbone-diagram-templates/cause-and-effect-template/
- https://journals.lww.com/jhqonline/Citation/2002/05000/Root_Cause_Analysis__Simplified_Tools_and.12.aspx
- https://www.canestar.com/list-of-departments-in-hospital-and-its-functions—-a-simple-learning-for-nurses..html
- Developing an Effective Root Cause Analysis in Healthcare
- Fishbone Diagram: A Tool to Organize a Problem’s Cause and Effect