Analyst training course details

Welcome

Welcome to Lightfoot’s training course on analysis using the sfn Analysis Client and Viewer. This page provides details of the course, and contains links to all the information you’ll need for it.

Before you start

Before your first training session, it is vital that you have a basic understanding of Statistical Process Control (SPC). You should also have a basic familiarity with the Viewer, and with continuous improvement. The following are links to brief videos that cover all you need to know before you start:

Student notes

Click here to access a PDF version of the student notes for this course.

Content of the course

Programme kick off

  • Programme structure, style, and practical work
  • Discussion and confirmation of the role of the analyst and the analytical process

Variation, SPC basics and the sfn Analysis Client

  • Review of common cause and special cause variation
  • What is SPC and why this is relevant to understanding variation?
  • The classic quality 7 tools
  • Getting started with the sfn Analysis Client

Accuracy and precision

  • Types of data in healthcare – counts, measurements and attributes
  • Difference between accuracy and precision in classic SPC and their meaning in health systems
  • Putting standard deviation to use
  • Histograms
  • Exploring a health system using the Analysis Client

Charts and the sfn Viewer

  • The use of standard deviation with sCharts
  • Getting started with the sfn Viewer (creating models, adding positioned tabs, images and text boxes)
  • Video: Adding a flow tab
  • Video: Customising text boxes

Variation across time and across categories

  • Analysing variation using histograms, Pareto charts and bar charts
  • The meaning of signals in SPC and their application to sCharts
  • Using benchmark charts and signals to visualise variation across categories and across time
  • Using these techniques in the Analysis Client for enhanced analysis of the health system

Enhancing Viewers

  • Using histograms, Pareto charts and bar charts in Viewers
  • Adding dials and maps
  • Setting sizes of objects
  • Introduction to inheritance
  • Positioning and aligning objects
  • Adding related panels and pop-ups
  • Using hotspots and links
  • Video: Setting the initial tab
  • Video: Updating images

Process mapping

  • Understanding and visualising processes and pathways for analysis of health systems
  • Using Microsoft Visio to create SVG images for Viewers

Advanced techniques for analysing variation

  • Using measure profiles to understand normal cycles in health data
  • Use of projection for simple prediction of future cyclicity
  • Use of ‘new data start’ for testing the impact of changes

Advanced Viewer techniques

  • Creating and using shared tabs
  • Adding filtering dropdowns for user selection of categories
  • Using inheritance within the Viewer
  • Setting permissions within the Model Directory, and in models
  • Creating roles in the Analysis Client for use in the Viewer

Coaching workshop

Group session to discuss learning and best practice, and to access expert help from Lightfoot.