Quality improvement
Quality Improvement
Quality Improvement (pronunciation: kwɒlɪti ɪmpruːvmənt) is a systematic, formal approach to the analysis of practice performance and efforts to improve performance.
Etymology
The term "Quality Improvement" is derived from the English words "quality" and "improvement". "Quality" comes from the Latin word "qualitas", meaning "character" or "essential nature", and "improvement" comes from the Old French "emprove", meaning "to improve".
Definition
A broad concept that encompasses the utilization of quality management measures and a systematic approach to make changes that will lead to better patient outcomes (health), better system performance (care) and better professional development. Quality Improvement activities can be approached in different ways to provide the best possible care that is supported by many tools and techniques.
Related Terms
- Quality Management: A management approach that establishes a set of quality standards for a healthcare system. It includes the implementation of quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement.
- Performance Improvement: A method of assessing and improving the performance of a healthcare system. It involves the identification of performance gaps and the development of interventions to close these gaps.
- Patient Safety: An important aspect of healthcare quality improvement. It involves the prevention and mitigation of harm caused by errors of commission or omission in healthcare.
- Healthcare Quality: The degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge.
- Process Improvement: A systematic approach to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a healthcare process. It involves the identification of process inefficiencies and the development of interventions to improve these processes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Quality improvement
- Wikipedia's article - Quality improvement
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