1. An FMEA will be performed on postoperative infections. Data is available by surgery type on the frequency, severity, and detectability of these infections. The director of quality improvement wants you to prepare a priority list giving the order in which the various surgeries should be examined, to produce the greatest potential benefi t for the organization.

Severity is ranked from most severe (4) to least severe (1), and detectability is ranked from diffi cult to detect (4) to easy to detect (1). Calculate a frequency ranking from very high (5)

to very low (1) based on the number of infections and cases shown in the following and the RPNs for each type of surgery. Which surgery should be examined fi rst? Which surgery should be examined last? What is the maximum possible risk score for this analysis?

Surgery Types Number of Infections Number of Cases Frequency Severity of Infections Detectability Risk Priority Number Thoracic 5 200 3 3 Neuro 1 100 4 3 Orthopedic 50 2,000 2 2 Plastic 32 800 1 2 Oral 25 500 1 1 General 100 5,000 2 1