In This Week's Readings You Learned About The Major Contribu
In This Weeks Readings You Learned About The Major Contributors To T
In this week's readings, you learned about the major contributors to the development of total quality management (TQM). Some of the methods that each developed are more suited to one application versus another. Select three contributors from the list shown here whose TQM methods could be readily applied to the daily business and medical operations of a medical center or hospital. Philip Crosby, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Armand Feigenbaum, Dr. Joseph M. Juran, Prof. Kaoru Ishikawa, Genichi Taguchi, Musaaki Imai.
In a Word document: Describe two of the contributions to the development of TQM for each of the three individuals you selected. Apply each of the contributions to a specific situation in the operations of a medical center or hospital. Include examples from both the medical and business operations to illustrate the use of TQM.
Paper For Above instruction
Total Quality Management (TQM) has revolutionized healthcare operations by emphasizing continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Among the numerous contributors to TQM, three notable figures—Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Joseph M. Juran, and Kaoru Ishikawa—have provided foundational methods that are highly applicable to both the clinical and administrative functions of a medical center or hospital.
W. Edwards Deming is renowned for his systematic approach to quality and statistical process control. Two of his key contributions include the PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and the emphasis on management's role in quality improvement. The PDCA cycle facilitates continuous improvement by guiding healthcare staff to plan specific interventions, implement them, evaluate outcomes, and refine processes accordingly. For example, a hospital aiming to reduce readmission rates for heart failure patients can utilize the PDCA cycle to test and implement care protocols, monitor patient outcomes, and adjust interventions, ultimately enhancing patient care quality.
Deming's focus on management responsibility underscores the importance of leadership in fostering a quality-focused culture. Leaders in a hospital setting can leverage this by establishing a quality management system that involves all staff in identifying issues and implementing solutions. For instance, hospital administrators may conduct regular training sessions on clinical protocols and patient safety initiatives, fostering a culture of shared responsibility for quality outcomes.
Joseph M. Juran contributed significantly through his concept of quality planning and quality control. His quality planning involves identifying customers' needs and translating those requirements into specific healthcare services. For example, understanding patient expectations for timely diagnoses and effective treatment allows hospital staff to design service delivery processes that meet these needs efficiently.
Juran’s emphasis on the Pareto principle—a focus on the vital few—helps hospital administrators prioritize issues that have the most significant impact on quality. In a medical context, this might mean focusing improvement efforts on the narrow causes of surgical site infections rather than less impactful factors. Additionally, his quality control principles, such as monitoring services for deviations and implementing corrective measures, are vital for maintaining safety standards in clinical procedures and medication administration.
Kaoru Ishikawa developed the cause-and-effect diagram, commonly known as the fishbone diagram, which aids in root cause analysis. This visual tool helps healthcare teams identify the underlying causes of problems such as patient falls or medication errors. For example, a team investigating medication errors might use the fishbone diagram to analyze factors related to staff training, medication storage, communication, and workflow.
Ishikawa also promoted company-wide quality awareness through quality circles—small groups working collaboratively toward quality improvements. In a hospital, forming multidisciplinary teams to review incidents like infections or delays in diagnostics encourages shared responsibility and innovative solutions. This approach actively engages staff at all levels, fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement.
In conclusion, the contributions of Deming, Juran, and Ishikawa offer comprehensive tools and philosophies that can profoundly enhance hospital operations. Applying the PDCA cycle, quality planning, Pareto analysis, cause-and-effect diagrams, and quality circles enables healthcare organizations to improve patient outcomes, streamline processes, and foster a culture dedicated to excellence.
References
Deming, W. Edwards. (1986). Out of the Crisis. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Juran, J. M. (1992). Juran on Quality by Design. Free Press.
Ishikawa, K. (1985). What Is Total Quality Control? The Japanese Way. Prentice-Hall.
Health Quality Improvement Foundation. (2014). Applying Deming’s PDCA Cycle in Healthcare.
Juran Institute. (2000). Juran’s Quality Planning and Control Handbook.
McGregor, M. et al. (2018). Root Cause Analysis in Hospital Settings. Journal of Healthcare Quality.
World Health Organization. (2018). Quality of Care Framework.
Berwick, D. (2009). what ‘Patient Safety’ Is and Is Not. New England Journal of Medicine.
Kumar, S. (2016). The Role of Quality Circles in Healthcare Improvement. Quality Digest.