Introduction
The medical surrounding is very complex. Doctors and other physicians are used to a lot of paperwork and relying on their memory. The traditional methods do not pave way to an upgraded health care system. The idea of meeting high standards and attaining the required status requires that the issue of quality be addressed systematically. Every organization keeps on improving the standards in its operations from one year to another. The aspect of quality control is mostly involved with the health sector. A great step in making some changes in an organization as pertaining to health issues is desirable and necessary. Quality improvement is a planned way of evaluating how services are offered by an organization and arranging on how to develop them further. This is however, done in the order of priority. Quality improvement plan ensures that hospitals and clinics provide the best medical services as well as creating accountability and honesty in relating to the employees and the patients (Dlugacz, 2006). The activity of implementing the improvement plan is a duty for every one and not the work of the senior management. A highly effective performance is made if a quality improvement plan is undertaken accurately. The following discussion will expound more on the details relating to formulation and implementation of a QI plan, and participation of each party involved.
The fundamentals of quality improvement plans
The improvement plan is primarily focused on the customers. They may be internal or external. The essence of focusing on them is to ensure that their needs are met. Another reason as to why the quality improvement is important is to help each person engaged with an organization to achieve his or her needs. Employees also need to be empowered. The existing programs need to be re- engineered or restructured to accommodate them. Quality improvement must involve leaders. Strong leadership is essential in supporting the intended improvement plans. The senior management is central in raising performance (Carey & Lloyd, 2001).
The plans must be aligned with the mission and the vision of the organization. Feedback mechanism is another important fundamental principle in quality improvement. A fact-filled way of making a decision is most likely to lead to a positive development. Quality improvement seeks to avert mistakes instead of making correction when they have already occurred. It also acts as statistics to present and reveals the strong and weak parts that organizations may wish to mend or strengthen more (Henderson, 2011).
Measuring quality
Four steps may be involved in achieving quality. It is a rapid way of making consecutive improvements in a healthcare setup. The first step involves settling on a plan on how to test on an existing objective(s).Then analysis is done after the execution of the test. This also involves recording any other finding(s). The findings are later summarized and important points noted. Lastly, the changes to be made are agreed upon for implementation (Dlugacz, 2006).
The role of clinical officer in QI
These are frontline staffs, who are involved in offering services to the patients. They should always have high integrity, as they are actually the most significant and notable change agents. The role of the clinician is to make sure the changes arrived at are implemented correctly and upheld. Every effort to include them in the plans should be made. They should be present in the early stages of QI, as this will make them feel part of the plan. They will offer personal support and this will help their easy integration into the program. Involving the clinicians will enhance a more refined data and reduced feedback backlog. Lacks of their inclusions can result to clinical costs due to neglected patients’ safety (Ransom et al., 2008).
The role of patients in the QI
The patients are the major beneficiaries in the QI. Constructive changes in the system are made more so to accommodate their needs. They have the right to access the quality healthcare services. The patients should be informed of the imminent changes before they are admitted or during the admission. There is always an atmosphere of confidence in patients where the healthcare system is secure and well managed (Carey & Lloyd, 2001).
Quality of care
Health care quality is defined as the ability of healthcare services attaining the best and the desired results. The measures used to define a quality care should observe the rules, with strong clinical presence. The measure should also integrate technical and the cultural aspects, as well as observing the competitive ability in arriving at constructive decision (s). Quality care also involves quality thinking and a positive attitude, which is generally concentrated within a healthcare organization. Quality care is defined along these lines. The accrediting bodies set them. However, other stakeholders define quality care along the financial strengths lines. Quality in healthcare is not expressly attending an expensive hospital (Henderson, 2011).
Quality management
Searching for excellence becomes a part of the day-to-day living for any one working in a health care organization that seeks quality. The Institute of Medicine is accredited in ensuring patients’ welfare are maintained in the U. S. Avoidance of injuries to the patients, effecting the clinical guidelines and a responsive care to patients are some of the Institute’s goals. It also makes sure physicians spend time, as a resource wisely. Non-compromised care is also encouraged (Dlugacz, 2006).
Other accrediting organizations include the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization, (JCAHO), the American Medical Accreditation Program (AMAP), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC), the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission/Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (AAHC/URAC) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA. Although each organization has its own way, they all share the umbrella role of facilitating better medical services. The accreditation process is different in each but all maintain a certain standard in ensuring high quality care. It is not however known with certainty whether the above organizations really enforce the high standards they pronounce (Ransom et al., 2008).
Conclusion
As evident from the above discussion, quality improvement in the healthcare sector is as important as in any other sector. This essay has discussed the framework under which quality improvement can be achieved. In addition, stakeholders who should be involved in the process have also been discussed. The quality improvement is an activity for all. It helps in achieving the highest standards in the medical field. If well-honored QI can became the best positive change agent in the healthcare sector. The quality improvement should be done regularly and all those concerned should fully participate. A medical or any other organization working under the umbrella of healthcare is accountable for any failure in maintaining the required safety standards.
References
Carey, R.G., & Llyod, R.C. (2001). Measuring quality improvement in healthcare. Wisconsin: ASQ Quality Press.
Dlugacz, Y. D. (2006). Measuring health care: Using data for operational, financial, and clinical improvement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Henderson, G.R. (2011). Six sigma quality improvement, 2nd (ed). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Ransom, et al. (2008). The healthcare quality book: Vision, strategy, and tools. (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.