The Goal and Principles of Quality Management in Health-care part 2

Nkiruka

Nkiruka

Throughout my career, I’ve seen the positive impact of adopting and sustaining a quality management system (QMS) in health-care organizations. Having a QMS in place has helped identify weaknesses in processes, leading to successful implementation of improvements.

Moreover, a QMS enables organizations to track and measure their performance over time, which is valuable for demonstrating to patients, regulators, and other stakeholders that they are consistently delivering high-quality care.
In addition to the internal benefits, a QMS helps health-care organizations meet regulatory requirements and accreditation standards, which are vital for legal operation and securing funding. Moreover, it prepares organizations for external quality assessments by government agencies or accrediting bodies.
When it comes to the principles of quality management in health-care, several key concepts guide our actions:

  • Patient-Centered Care: Quality management revolves around the patient’s needs and preferences. Care should be individualized to meet each patient’s specific requirements.
  • Continuous Improvement: We believe in a never-ending journey of identifying areas for improvement, setting goals, and making changes based on data analysis.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Our decisions are rooted in objective data and evidence rather than subjective opinions or traditions. We collect and analyze data from various sources to inform our decision-making process.
  • Collaboration and Engagement: We actively engage all stakeholders, including health-care professionals and patients, to ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in decision-making.
  • Transparency and Accountability: We maintain transparency by communicating and documenting processes and outcomes. This promotes accountability and fosters trust with patients and stakeholders.

In discussions about quality, I’ve often heard the saying, “Quality is not an accident.” This statement resonates deeply with me, as it emphasizes that achieving high-quality care in health-care requires careful planning, attention to detail, and continuous effort. Quality cannot be achieved passively; it demands active dedication from all stakeholders involved.
To instill a culture of quality within our health-care organization, we take several steps. First, we communicate the importance of quality to all stakeholders, ensuring they understand its impact on our organization and our patients.
Secondly, we provide training and resources to equip our staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to focus on quality in their work. We empower them with tools and technologies that aid in improving quality.
Next, we actively encourage feedback and suggestions for improvement, making it clear that we value their input. This feedback is invaluable in driving continuous improvement.
And lastly, we recognize and reward stakeholders who demonstrate a commitment to quality and contribute to organizational improvements. This recognition motivates others to adopt a quality-centric mindset.

While establishing a culture of quality in our organization is an ongoing and challenging process, we remain committed to communicating the importance of quality, providing the necessary resources, and recognizing the efforts of all stakeholders. Together, we strive to provide the best possible care and continuously improve the health-care experience for our patients.

 

Link: 

https://medium.com/@georgeindexinc/the-goal-and-principles-of-quality-management-in-healthcare-2-33b5c50fe3ce