Quality improvement

Quality Improvement (QI) is a systematic, formal approach to the analysis of practice performance and efforts to improve performance. A variety of approaches—or QI models—exist to help you collect and analyze data and test change. While the specifics of each model may vary, most are based on a continuous quality improvement model that requires ongoing refinement and revision of health care processes.

Definition

Quality Improvement is defined as the systematic approach to reduction or elimination of waste, rework, and losses in production process. It involves a combined effort among health care staff and leaders to create a system that supports high-quality patient care.

History

The concept of quality improvement has been present in health care for many years. Early efforts focused on the use of statistical methods and focused on the quality of products, not the process of creating them. The modern concept of quality improvement stems from the work of W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran, both of whom had significant influence on Japanese manufacturing practices post-World War II.

Principles

The principles of quality improvement are customer satisfaction, employee involvement, process improvement, and management by fact. These principles are derived from the teachings of quality gurus like Philip B. Crosby, W. Edwards Deming, Armand V. Feigenbaum, Kaoru Ishikawa, and Joseph M. Juran.

Methods

There are several methods to quality improvement. These include the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, Six Sigma, Lean, and Total Quality Management (TQM). Each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of which to use depends on the specific situation.

Applications in Healthcare

In healthcare, quality improvement can involve various activities such as improving accuracy of medical records, ensuring services are provided in the most efficient and effective manner, and reducing wait times for patients. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.

See Also

• Healthcare Quality
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Audit
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• National Quality Forum
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement

References

Quality improvement Resources
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