Managing and Improving Quality - Term Paper Example

? Managing and Improving Quality al Affiliation: Managing and Improving Quality Introduction The following performance improvement methodology is designed for those managers who use enterprise-wide BMC therapy ITSM solutions among other Action Systems which are also based on custom applications and faced with poor performance tribulations. This methodology addresses problems in a systematic as well as sensible manner. The methodology offers a multi-phased approach in recognizing performance problems and implementing clarification for the increase in performance. Performance improvement methodology consists of organizational and technical achievement of which proper application lead to improved application of performance as suggested by Meisenheimer (1997). There are three performance improvement methodologies described in this paper. Six Sigma is one of the methodologies and was initiated by Motorola then publicized by General electric. It is a manufacturing methodology whose focus is on variance reduction via a problem solution approach in order to improve quality of output. Lean thinking which was pioneered by Toyota as the company’s key to success. The methodology aims at reducing waste in order to improve the performance of business via workflow improvement. Theory of Constraint is a methodology which focuses on constraints of the manufacturing system and stresses on quicker systems throughput in a system process. Comparison of performance Improvement Methodologies Agenda Six sigma Lean thinking Theory of constraints Theory Reduce variation Waste elimination Constraint management Targeted Organizations Manufacturing manufacturing Manufacturing spotlight problems Flow of work Systems limitation Applications Definitions Analyzing Improving Controlling measuring Value recognition Recognizing value stream Perfection Pull and flow Recognizing limitations and exploiting them. Subordinate process Constraint elevation Cycle repetition Assumptions Problem existence Quick throughput Limited inventory Fluctuations Measurement of performance for managers. Quality improvement. Removal of waste improves the performance of business. Several but small improvements are preferable compared to systems analysis. Speed and volume emphasis. Use of existing systems. An independent process. Primary effect Output process is uniform Decreased flow time Quick throughput Use of Six Sigma in healthcare organizations Six Sigma offers healthcare organizations a structure for Quality improvement both as a measurement as an application. Six Sigma is important in a healthcare organization for viability reduction in clinical service delivery. The application of Six Sigma in healthcare is a quality improvement plan in the process of medication application. Its presentation in this methodology demonstrates the versatility of these quality improvements in the healthcare organizations. Six Sigma in QI plan is a concept in statistics that represents the differences in data which has been set about its mean. In healthcare organizations the process capability measures the mean of the process in relation to the closest patient specifications limit. Six sigma as a management methodology provides the healthcare organization with the ability to systematically reduce its current errors and defects occurrences to low levels. This is achieved with a specific goal of delivering services with minimum error for maximum opportunities. Therefore in healthcare services the QI plan for six sigma is consider as a measurement and a methodology as well. In the healthcare organizations Six Stigma is applied in reducing variation sources found in various process of the organization. These processes include patient treatment, billing, patient triage and technology use by employees. Six Sigma was chosen by the many healthcare organizations due to its ability to evaluate process capability in performing defect free in a case where the defect is defined as something that patient satisfaction. At the same time, Six Sigma helps in designing, monitoring and improving t medical processes in order to minimize and eliminate waste of time while increasing the satisfaction of patients. Six Sigma is also applied in these organizations since according to its significant philosophy it decreases differences in all processes of product and service delivery. Six Sigma is also able to apply rigorous statistical process control in improving quality tools such as continuous Quality Improvement. In healthcare industries, the main aim of organizations is to reduce the cases of medical errors and Six Sigma is the best methodology that can be used in such cases. The three components of information technology applications in quality management in the healthcare organization include patient management and billing, departmental management and Financial/resource management. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is an IT application in quality management which under health care operations performs primary centralized functions that are customer related. These functions include registration, admission, identification, discharge, and billing and location transfer operations according to Shortliffe and Cimino (2006). It also serves well in hospital census maintenance as well as in the system of patient billing. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) as an IT application in quality management in healthcare organizations helps as in supporting information requirements for personal clinical departments. Departments where this application is mostly used include: radiology, laboratory, blood-bank, medical-records and pharmacy departments. Barcode Medication Administration and Documentation is an application which helps in healthcare organizations traditional business functions. These include human resource, accounts payable, payroll management, general ledger, and inventory and material purchasing. These data processing programs are well l structured. Financing and administrative application were among the first it applications to be standardized in quality management. In their operations they simplify the complicated patient accounting needs also work on the government’s myriad reimbursement needs. Milestones and benchmarks are important in managing the application of quality indicators for organizational development. They improve the relationship between internal and external functioning of an organization. They also provide an effective communication and better ability of management to handle organizational problems according to Lachman (2009). Benchmarks and milestones also ensure a more effective decision making process of quality indicators in management. There are various quality indicators benchmarks and milestones which can be applied in quality improvement plan. For instance The National quality benchmark measures helps hospitals to chose and apply medically proven quality measures. It is usually designed as one-stop health system and those interested in quality improvement and measurement. It also provides the most current evidence oriented quality measures in evaluating healthcare quality. The selection matrix milestone in healthcare organizations helps in location of sites in case of a public health emergency. It has been designed in such a way that it allows regional planners in accessing and categorizing potential alternative locations. New computer staffing benchmark provides healthcare organizations with the health systems needed in dispensing and as well as vaccination campaigns. A web-based clinical pharmacology benchmark helps in the prevention of adverse events. The balanced scorecard is a system in strategic planning and management that is used in business and other organizations to align activities with vision, mission and strategic plan. As a result it ensures vision, mission and strategy plan of an organization lead to an improved internal as well as external communications. This also enables the organization to be able to monitor its organizational performance in line with the organizations strategic goal. The alignment of performance and quality measures holds the traditional measures regarding vision, mission and strategy plan. The financial measures provide important information on the organization whose long term investment capabilities and customer satisfaction are generally critical for success. The alignment of quality measure with performance has performance software which helps in getting performance information of the organization to the right individuals. Conclusion All organizations that are concerned about their performance should strive towards employing an effective quality measurement and performance management structures. This is because it is only through such systems that they can maintain a high level of performance or get on track. Aligning performance and quality measurement requires the organization to be viewed in four different dimensions. These dimensions include: metrics development, data analysis and collection. References Lachman, V.(2009). Ethical challenges in health care: developing your moral compass. New York, NY : Springer Publishing Company. Meisenheimer, C. G. (1997). Improving quality: a guide to effective programs. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Shortliffe,E. & Cimino, J. (2006). Biomedical informatics: computer applications in health care and biomedicine. New York, NY : Springers Read More