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Quality management within a cost‐constrained service
Author(s) -
Badger
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2834.1999.00141.x
Subject(s) - quality (philosophy) , variety (cybernetics) , quality management , quality costs , risk analysis (engineering) , service quality , service (business) , health care , process management , quality policy , operations management , business , meaning (existential) , computer science , cost control , marketing , psychology , economics , philosophy , epistemology , artificial intelligence , economic growth , psychotherapist
Aim To examine the meaning of quality and ways in which quality can be improved despite budgetary limitations. Key issues Definitions of quality are discussed, comparing the development from industrial concepts of quality to that contained within the Department of Health’s A First Class Service . The relationship of cost and quality is examined and the effects of changing treatments on healthcare costs explored. Clinical error is identified as a cause of increased cost through failure to maintain quality. A variety of quality tools are discussed in identifying ways in which quality can be improved within a cost‐limited service. Thrombolysis is used as an exemplar and the effects on nursing discussed. Conclusion There is research evidence which demonstrates that some areas of quality are amenable to improvement despite budgetary constraints.