TMS
Case Studies
Page 13
Putting Together Case Studies?
By Chris Correll.
Learning Objectives: Case Study
In this article you will:
Be able to describe the seven parts as well as draft a case study.
“White papers”
guide and
educate readers
as well as help
make informed
decisions to
solve problems
Recently, I was reading an excellent written case study about the
―Accuracy Check for Infusion Pumps Using IDA4” by Ichiro Suzuki, Division of Artificial Organs, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University Department of Clinical Engineering in Miyagi Japan. I decided that I would talk more about how to put together a case study for
those who wish to write future case studies for our later editions. The purpose of a case study is simply researching, collecting, and defining accurate data to support your point of view. There are seven parts to writing a
strong case study (i.e. white paper) these are: An Introduction, All Materiel's Used, Inspection Methods, Charts and Graphs, The End Results,
Any Discussion, and Conclusion.
Let us begin, the introduction should state facts or statistics as well as
explains what you want your readers to know. (E.g. ―December 2010, accuracy checks were performed monthly using a Fluke Biomedical IDA 4
Plus infusion pump tester.‖) Next, list all the different materiel's and test
equipment used in the study. (E.g. hospital X has 2400 infusion pumps in
three models, including A12, AC 24, and ABC1235. These devices were
checked using an IDA 4 instrument with last known calibration date listed
as 12 December 2011.‖) Through proper inspection methods we shall begin asking ourselves these key questions such as who, what, when, why,
and how often.
After that are the inspection methods or how often as well as how
many devices were checked on a monthly basis. (E.g. In hospital X, accuracy checks are performed every month for all infusion and syringe
pumps using IDA 4 tester and distilled water.) For, the flow rate accuracy
checks is measured over one to two hours for each pump with a flow accuracy of 10 mL ± 10 % for infusion pumps and 5 mL ± 3 % for syringe
pumps. These test results are document and any infusion pump with incorrect values, the test may be repeated.‖ Moving on, no good case study
is without pretty charts and graphs to visually stimulate the reader.
Next, every ―excellent‖ case study should have pie charts and line
graphs to illustrate our methods. In our example, we would have a linear
chart displaying flow rate over a time 2 hour time period. Also, the end
results sums up your immediate findings. …(Continued on next page)