Year	Patients Seen in ER	Patients Seen in Outpatient Surgery	Patients Seen as Inpatients
2000	25,000	15,000	18,500
2001	25,500	16,500	20,000
2002	27,500	16,000	21,500
2003	26,500	15,500	22,000
2004	28,000	17,000	23,500
2005	27,500	18,000	23,000
2006	25,000	16,000	21,500

Here is what the line graph would look like:

STRATEGY 12-2: Creating a Chart on the Computer

1. Open a spreadsheet program (e.g., Excel).

2. Input the data into the cells.

3. Highlight the cells you would like to include in the chart.

4. Click on the “Insert” tab and click on “Chart.”

5. Follow the tutorial regarding the type of chart and labels.

PRACTICE THE SKILL 12-1

1. Use graph paper or a computer to plot the following data to create a line graph.

Year	Live Infants Born
2000	550
2001	475
2002	575
2003	600
2004	525
2005	500
2006	625

2. The following data set represents the number of patients seen in a physician’s office per day for one month.

Monday	32
Tuesday	26
Wednesday	22
Thursday	28
Friday	32
Saturday	17

Based on the above data set, answer the following questions:

a. On what day(s) are the most patients seen?______________________

b. If you need to decrease the schedule by one day, which day would you consider eliminating? ___________________________

3. The following data set represents the number of males and females ages 12 to 18 seen in the laboratory in the first half of the year. Create a chart to represent the data sets.

January	150 males	175 females
February	112 males	145 females
March	125 males	115 females
April	100 males	120 females
May	90 males	85 females
June	75 males	90 females

4. Answer the following questions based on the graph below.

a. What year had the lowest number of deaths at Brightwood Hospital? ______________________

b. What year had the greatest number of deaths at Brightwood Hospital? ______________________

c. How many deaths occurred at Brightwood Hospital in 2002? ______________________

d. How many deaths occurred at Brightwood Hospital in 2001? ______________________

5. Answer the following questions based on the graph below.

a. Which months had the greatest number of other multiple births? ______________________

b. In what month were there no twins born at Brightwood Hospital? ______________________

c. In what month were the most triplets born? ______________________

d. Which month(s) had the greatest number of multiple births? ______________________

e. Which month(s) had the most twin births? ______________________

Objective 3

Measurement graphs

Many facilities have standardized graphic sheets. These sheets can be used to record vital signs (vital sign graphs) and fluid intake and output (intake and output graphs). Because necessary information has been recorded in one place on the graphic sheets, a reviewer can look at trends over a specified period.

The purpose of this section is introduce you to the use of different measurement graphs in the health care setting. Become familiar with the organization of the measurement graphs and how they can be used; in this section, you will be transferring information to the correct section of a graph. As you continue on your educational pathway in health care, you will receive detailed instruction on the use and values of measurement graphs.

Vital Sign Graphs

Look at Figure 12-1. Which part of the chart is considered the vital sign graphic sheet? By viewing the graphic sheet, you can easily tell when the patient’s temperature was above normal (98.6° F).