Healthcare quality improvement work: a professional employee perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 410-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Gadolin ◽  
Thomas Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Institutional Logics ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Employee Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement ◽  
Professional Employee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze conditions that influence how employees engage in healthcare quality improvement (QI) work. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative case study based on interviews (n=27) and observations (n=10). Findings The main conditions that influence how employees engage in healthcare QI work are professions, work structures and working relationships. These conditions can both prevent and facilitate healthcare QI. Professions and work structures may cement existing institutional logics and thus prevent employees from engaging in healthcare QI work. However, attempts to align QI with professional logics, together with work structures that empower employees, can make these conditions increase employee engagement, which can be accomplished through positive working relationships that foster institutional work, which bridge different competing institutional logics, making it possible to overcome barriers that professions and work structures may constitute. Practical implications Understanding the conditions that influence how employees engage in healthcare QI work will make initiatives more likely to succeed. Originality/value Healthcare QI has mainly been studied from an implementer perspective, and employees have either been neglected or seen as passive resisters. Weak employee perspectives make healthcare QI research incomplete. In our research, healthcare QI work is studied closely at the actor level to understand healthcare QI from an employee perspective.

scholarly journals The impact of accreditation on healthcare quality improvement: a qualitative case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1242-1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Melo
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Research on accreditation has mostly focused on assessing its impact using large scale quantitative studies, yet little is known on how quality is improved in practice through an accreditation process. Using a case study of an acute teaching hospital in Portugal, the purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics through which accreditation can lead to an improvement in the quality of healthcare services provided. Design/methodology/approach Data for the case study was collected through 46 in-depth semi-structured interviews with 49 clinical and non-clinical members of staff. Data were analyzed using a framework thematic analysis. Findings Interviewees felt that hospital accreditation contributed to the improvement of healthcare quality in general, and more specifically to patient safety, as it fostered staff reflection, a higher standardization of practices, and a greater focus on quality improvement. However, findings also suggest that the positive impact of accreditation resulted from the approach the hospital adopted in its implementation as well as the fact that several of the procedures and practices required by accreditation were already in place at the hospital, albeit often in an informal way. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted in only one hospital. The design of an accreditation implementation plan tailored to the hospital’s context can significantly contribute to positive outcomes in terms of quality and patient safety improvements. Originality/value This study provides a better understanding of how accreditation can contribute to healthcare quality improvement. It offers important lessons on the factors and processes that potentiate quality improvements through accreditation.

Using informatics to improve healthcare quality

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-430
Author(s):  
Ahmed Otokiti
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Improve Population Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into contemporary challenges associated with applying informatics and big data to healthcare quality improvement. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a narrative literature review. Findings Informatics serve as a bridge between big data and its applications, which include artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and point-of-care clinical decision making. Healthcare investment returns, measured by overall population health, healthcare operation efficiency and quality, are currently considered to be suboptimal. The challenges posed by informatics/big data span a wide spectrum from individual patients to government/regulatory agencies and healthcare providers. Practical implications The paper utilizes informatics and big data to improve population health and healthcare quality improvement. Originality/value Informatics and big data utilization have the potential to improve population health and service quality. This paper discusses the challenges posed by these methods as the author strives to achieve the aims.

An integrated approach for prioritized process improvement

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 493-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gangaraju Vanteddu ◽  
Charles D. McAllister
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Pareto Chart ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement ◽  
Healthcare Quality Assurance ◽  
Healthcare Processes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated framework to simultaneously identify and improve healthcare processes that are important from the healthcare provider's and patient's perspectives. Design/methodology/approach – A modified quality function deployment (QFD) chart is introduced to the field of healthcare quality assurance. A healthcare service example is used to demonstrate the utility of the proposed chart. Findings – The proposed framework is versatile and can be used in a wide variety of healthcare quality improvement contexts, wherein, two different perspectives are needed to be considered for identifying and improving critical healthcare processes. Practical implications – The modified QFD chart used in conjunction with the stacked Pareto chart will facilitate the identification of key performance metrics from the patient's and the hospital's perspectives. Subsequently, the chief contributory factors at different levels are identified in a very efficient manner. Originality/value – Healthcare quality improvement professionals will be able to use the proposed modified QFD chart in association with stacked Pareto chart for effective quality assurance.

scholarly journals Enhancing the healthcare quality improvement storyboard using photovoice

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e001104
Author(s):  
Pamela Mathura ◽  
Miriam Li ◽  
Natalie McMurtry ◽  
Narmin Kassam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement

Finding the best examples of healthcare quality improvement in Sub-Saharan Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Liu ◽  
J. Babigumira ◽  
A. Chiunda ◽  
A. Katamba ◽  
I. Litvak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Healthcare Quality Improvement ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Quality function deployment: more than a design tool

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadiye Ozlem Erdil ◽  
Omid M. Arani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Quality Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Design Activities

Purpose This paper aims to investigate to what extent quality function deployment (QFD) can be used in quality improvement rather than design activities. Design/methodology/approach A framework was developed for implementation of QFD as a quality improvement tool. A case study approach is used to test this framework, and quality issues were analyzed using the framework in a ceramic tile manufacturing company. Findings The results showed considerable improvements in the critical quality characteristics identified and sales rates, demonstrating the potential of QFD to be used in assessing and prioritizing areas of improvement, and converting them into measurable process or product requirements. Research limitations/implications One case study was completed. More studies would be beneficial to support current findings. Practical implications This framework provides structured approach and guidelines for practitioners in adapting QFD for quality improvements in existing products or processes. Originality/value This study proposes a new framework to use QFD in quality improvement activities, expanding its application areas. Moreover, the results of the literature study performed provide a valuable collection of practical QFD implementation examples.

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