"Without data you cannot sustain your programme" - this piece is about understanding the importance of data collection as part of the perioperative process. Quality improvement stems from this, consistent definitions and measures allow you to do the job properly. They also allow you to build the case and put a story to the process which higher management and resource allocation can work with. "If we don't know it's broke we can't fix it" - just as we need to know and recognise success in order to see it grow and develop. Presented by Vicki Morton, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Director of Clinical and Quality Outcomes at Providence Anesthesiology Associates, University of South Carolina.