Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare

930 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Challenges in adopting total quality management in a company

Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare
Healthcare providers strive to improve service quality by implementing various quality management programs. Customers tend to seek for higher quality of care when choosing treatments, providers, and health plans. For healthcare organizations that desire to provide high quality care and compete in the global market, choosing a quality management program to implement is critical for performance and efficiency. Many studies have been conducted to analyze the effectiveness of such programs. Lean, Six Sigma and Total Quality Management (TQM) are three programs that will reviewed by three different case studies in efforts to understand them and to compare and contrast their capabilities.
Lean
In a qualitative study, Sobek (2011) identifies and articulates the critical success factors and strongest inhibitors to the implementation and sustainability of lean quality management practices within healthcare organizations. The study methodology consisted of a thematic analysis of literature, a cross-case analysis of medical centers that have attempted lean implementation, and a Delphi study conducted by a panel of experts in lean healthcare application. The findings showed that lean has been successful in healthcare and shows much potential. The two strongest success factors were widespread involvement of all key stakeholders and strong leadership support. Emphasis was placed on communication, training, problem solving, and standardizing for increased success with lean procedures. Despite the improvements shown with lean standards in the manufacturing industry, lean healthcare still faces many barriers.
Many healthcare facilities struggle with lean implementation and sustainability beca...

... middle of paper ...

..., Chakhunashvili, A., & Bergman, B. (2010). Lessons from sweden's first large-scale implementation of six sigma in healthcare. Operations Management Research, 3(3-4), 117-128. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12063-010-0038-y

Sobek,Durward K.,,II. (2011). Lean healthcare implementation: Critical success factors. IIE Annual Conference.Proceedings, , 1-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1190332495?accountid=38569
Sunder, M. V. (2013). Synergies of lean six sigma. IUP Journal of Operations Management, 12(1), 21-31. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1321940772?accountid=38569
Yasin, M. M., & Alavi, J. (1999). An analytical approach to determining the competitive advantage of TQM in health care. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 12(1), 18-24. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/229692589?accountid=38569

Show More
Related

  • Identifying and Analysing the supply chain structure of Superdrug

    2124 Words  | 5 Pages

    TONI, A.D.,TONCHIA, S. (1996) “Lean orgnanisation, management by process and performance measurement”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 16(2), pp. 221-236. [Online}. Available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com (Accessed: 08 December 2011)

    Read More

  • Lean Six Sigma Analysis

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many people that benefit from Lean Six Sigma which include mainly customers, suppliers, employees, and also stockholders. Lean Six Sigma is a way for businesses to improve, to reduce waste and to become more successful. In the future, more and more organizations will adopt or practice some of the Lean, Six Sigma, or both in order to stay competitive in today’s market. In some cases, blending both Lean and Six Sigma can be costly and difficult; however the end result can create an organization that focuses on quality, accuracy, and speed to meet the goal which is profitability.

    Read More

  • Operations Management Metrics

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    Barnard, W., De Feo, J. (2004). Juran Institute’s Six Sigma Breakthrough and Beyond. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies

    Read More

  • Strtegic Plan Analysis Paper

    1114 Words  | 3 Pages

    Contained within the following paper is the evaluation of the author’s organization’s mission, vision goals, and objectives .The author will discuss the pre-determined questions as set forth by Jeffrey Trapp, a certified University of Phoenix instructor. This paper will discuss the differences that a rise between a company that has implemented TQM (Total Quality Management) with that of the authors own organization’s management style.

    Read More

  • External and External Influences in Health Care

    786 Words  | 2 Pages

    Buchbinder, S.B., & Shanks, N. H. (2007). Introduction to Health Care Management. Sudbury, MA. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Performance Improvement in Health Care. 5, 81-135.

    Read More

  • Understanding Lean Manufacturing: A Toyota Case Study

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lean thinking changes the focus of management from optimizing separate technologies, assets, and vertical departments to optimizing the flow of products and services through entire value streams that flow horizontally across technologies, assets, and departments to

    Read More

  • Case Study: Quality Driven Management

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Actually, FedEx sends their managers to Lean Six Sigma courses and there are some black and yellow belts within FedEx’s ranks. Six Sigma programs have had success where others have failed because Six Sigma provides a structured, logical, and disciplined approach to problem solving. Six Sigma projects usually follow a defined process that consist of five phases. These phases are define, measure, analyze, improve, and control that is referred to as (DMAIC). The name of the phases mean, the DMAIC improvement process is an adaptation of the scientific method to process improvement (Meredith & Shafer, 2013). Frequently a DMAIC project serves as plan milestones and are entrances to the next phase in the plan. Specifically, the progress and outcomes associated with the plan is constantly valued at the end of each phase to assess its merits towards permitting the plan to move to the next phase. Organizational resources are allocated to the plan is assessed at each milestone. In addition, there are standard Six Sigma tools and methodologies used at various phases (Meredith & Shafer,

    Read More

  • Business Case Analysis

    2011 Words  | 5 Pages

    Sitnikov, C. (2012). Six sigma as a strategic tool for companies. Young Economists Journal / Revista Tinerilor Economisti, 94-102.

    Read More

  • Six Sigma: Enhancing Organizational Contingency Factors

    1916 Words  | 4 Pages

    Organizations are typically defined by their structural dimensions since these are visible and easily calculated qualities. Although these are key to an organization’s success, even more important are the contingency factors since these are the larger settings that influence and determine the structural dimensions (Daft, 2016, p. 17). Moreover, Six Sigma has the greatest influence on these contingency factors since the overall goal of the administrative innovation is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the organizational technology. Additionally, Six Sigma has evolved into a strategic and cultural method of thinking and performing. Consequentially, utilizing the Six Sigma method influences an organization’s technology, strategy and goals, and the culture of an organization. Additionally, the actual application of the Six Sigma methods can help improve processes to allow an organization to influence their environment.

    Read More

  • The Effect Of Lean Six Sigma On The Employee And The Organization

    1957 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lean Six Sigma is a methodology that creates processes within an organization to cut waste and improve the company’s performance. However, studies have shown that over the past decade applying Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma can create problems for companies financially and potential problems for employees. Companies should take great care before implementing a Lean Six Sigma solution because in some instances, going lean can do more harm than good both financially for the organization as well as destroying employee loyalty and moral.

    Read More

  • Access, Quality, and Cost Containment

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vest, J.R., & Gamm, L.D., (2009) A critical review of the research literature on Six Sigma, Lean and StuderGroup's Hardwiring Excellence in the United States: the need to demonstrate and communicate the effectiveness of transformation strategies in healthcare. Implement Sci. 2009 Jul 1;4:35.

    Read More

  • Quality Improvement Initiatives

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quality improvement initiatives are effective only when the organizational structure and culture are aligned with a similar vision for the provision of quality care delivery and a commitment to continuous improvement. Organizations must take an active approach to measure, assess, and improve processes creating an environment supporting quality improvement initiatives (Spath, 2014). The creation of this type of environment should be evident from the top tier of leadership to the front-line employees, creating a culture supporting the delivery and sustainability of quality care. The following paragraphs will identify and discuss the authority structure of the quality improvement plan including the roles and responsibilities of the members involved in the plan implementation. Additional discussion will include the roles of communication, education, and evaluation of the quality improvement plan. Finally, identification and discussion of the impact external entities have on the project and the strategies needed to overcome potential challenges to the project implementation.

    Read More

  • Collaborative Quality Improvement

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    For example, total quality management (TQM) does not provide any recommend quality measure tools or methods to speed up the pace for quality improvements (Sadikoglu & Olcay, 2014). It is no longer an issue whether the health care industry should aim for quality, but rather the methods and models used to accelerate quality improvement. Therefore, it is necessary for the leadership to implement a quality improvement program and incorporate different methods and models such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act, (PDCA), Lean, and Six Sigma (Sokovic, Pavletic & Pipan, 2010). Implementing a quality improvement program will not only change the organizational culture, but it will accelerate quality improvement efforts of patients safety and health care

    Read More

  • The Mayo Clinic: A Performance Management Assessment

    2102 Words  | 5 Pages

    Competitive advantage matters greatly to those responsible for the management of healthcare institutions. Together with rapidly escalating healthcare costs, increasingly complex medical technologies, and growing regulatory and legal pressures, healthcare organizations face a critical need to improve the quality of care at reduced costs (Cu...

    Read More

  • Importance Of Quality Improvement In Healthcare

    1233 Words  | 3 Pages

    Understanding quality measurement is essential in improving quality. Teams need to be able to understand whether the changes being made are actually leading to improved care and improved outcomes. For data to have an impact on an improvement initiative, providers and staff must understand it, trust it, and use it. Health care organization must understand the measurement of quality provided by the Institute of Medicine (patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, compliance, efficiency, safe, timely, patient centered, and equitable. An organization cannot improve its performance if it does not know how it is performing. Measuring quality improvements is essential as it reflects the quality of care given by the providers and that by comparing performance

    Read More

More about Managing Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Open Document