Total Quality Management in Health Care - A Study on TQM Implementation and its Application to the Army Health Care System.

摘要

Total Quality Management (TQM) is the new management philosophy of the Army health care system. TQM consists of principles and tools which can be applied in this health care setting. TQM represents a tremendous departure from the previous traditional management philosophy and requires an organizational transformation over 3-6 years in order to be fully implemented. when the senior leadership of a health care system initiates the transformation, there usually occurs some resistance to change. Implementation of TQM follows defined stages of development over time in most organizations. Transformation of a health care system like Health Services Command will require it to address these stages of acceptance, education, and integration. TQM has exceptional potential to improve markedly the quality of health care and at the same time reduce costs. Through successful implementation of TQM, a health care system will be transformed into a continuously improving, high quality, efficient organization that empowers its workforce to meet and to exceed the expectations of its customers. Health Services Command is well on its way toward this transformation. Recommendations are made in order to maintain this momentum for change.