Healthcare Quality Management: Why Quality Management?
As I am attending the Quality Management Conference as part of #ArabHealth2023, what I notice is the extraordinary talent, expertise, and dedication of the professionals delivering the talks and the audience members I have met. These experts are visionaries, strategic thinkers, data-driven, collaborative, authentic, and committed. I am inspired to be among them, contributing to the quality of healthcare delivery in facilities and the people who provide that service. Then I was talking to a new client who asked for my help with some people-development problems and they were unclear about the connection to quality management. So, I shared this with them.
So why are we talking about Quality Management?
Quality management is the systematic approach to planning, designing, executing, and monitoring processes and activities aimed at achieving and maintaining quality in a product or service. In the context of healthcare, “quality management” refers to the systematic processes used by healthcare organizations to ensure that they are providing high-quality patient care and services. This includes the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the continuous monitoring and improvement of healthcare processes to ensure that they are effective, efficient, and meet the needs of patients. Quality management in healthcare involves various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, administrators, and patients, and is an essential component of patient safety and overall healthcare quality.
Quality management in healthcare is important because it ensures that patients receive safe, effective, and high-quality care. By implementing quality management processes, healthcare organizations can identify and correct deficiencies in care delivery, reduce medical errors, and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, quality management helps healthcare organizations to meet regulatory requirements, maintain accreditation, and increase patient satisfaction. In short, quality management is crucial for promoting and maintaining the overall quality of care in healthcare.
Being a great quality management professional requires several key qualities and skills, including:
Knowledge of quality management principles and practices: A thorough understanding of quality management theories and methodologies is essential for success in this field.
Analytical skills: The ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data is crucial for identifying areas for improvement and measuring the success of quality management initiatives.
Communication skills: Effective communication skills are necessary for communicating with stakeholders, presenting findings and recommendations, and building support for quality improvement initiatives.
Problem-solving skills: Quality management professionals must be able to identify and analyze complex problems, develop and implement solutions, and monitor results.
Attention to detail: Quality management professionals must be meticulous and detail-oriented in order to ensure that all aspects of care are delivered to a high standard.
Collaboration skills: Quality management is often a team effort, so the ability to work effectively with others is important.
Adaptability: The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, so quality management professionals must be flexible and able to adjust to changing circumstances.
Commitment to continuous improvement: A passion for continuous improvement and a desire to continuously raise the bar for quality are important traits for success in this field.
Pam Jackson, PhD CPHQ is an organizational and behavioral economist who builds the skills and value of human capital in workplaces around the world. Based in Dubai, UAE, and serving clients in such countries as Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, Dr. Pam also reaches the USA, UK, and Europe to provide corporate training, coaching, and consulting to improve workplace culture, operations, and quality management, employee experience and to ensure high-performing teams. Contact her team here.
