Task: Quality Healthcare Discussion Response

Quality in healthcare can easily and generally be defined as aspects of patient care that provide for the patient’s needs in an affordable, safe, and effective manner. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines healthcare quality as a direct relationship between the level of improved health services and the expected health outcomes (IOM, 2018). Earlier definitions of quality healthcare were virtually exclusively defined by health professions and researchers but have evolved to encompass the patient’s views and preferences. This engagement of the patient has strengthened quality measures and improvement by allowing patients to take ownership of all aspects of the health spectrum from preventive, acute, chronic, and rehabilitative care. This collaboration among providers, patients, patient’s families, and even the community as a whole has expanded and promoted quality improvement through evidence-based practices.

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Influenced by Walter Shewhart’s studies regarding quality from an industrial perspective, Deming determined that quality was a significant determinant for positive outcomes. The Japanese automobile industry applied his methods during the post-World War II era, which allowed the Japanese to gain worldwide recognition for the quality of their products and services (Deming, 1982). Deming’s theory is a management philosophy based on systems-focused improvement and represents a holistic approach to leadership and management. By outlining managerial changes necessary to improve quality. Deming’s theory applies perfectly to healthcare by focusing on problems within a system and resolving to find a solution within that system by incorporating leadership and management to ensure that the systems and processes in place are followed. Quality improvement should be supported by sound data so that when presented to clinicians and providers it will ensure a more receptive attitude to any changes in process development that have been made.

With the emphasis on efficiency, flow, and quality improvement of a system, Deming realized that to make changes within an organization, the individual workers needed support in helping them transform themselves and their practices to transform the overall system. This practice is best supported by leadership and management to ensure processes are followed. Knowledge of system frameworks and incorporating changes takes the focus and blame away from the individuals who operate within the system and focuses on management ownership of evidence-based process changes while building a system that is continually evolving and improving. Task: Quality Healthcare Discussion Response