External Quality Improvement

Introduction

Successful health care organizations recognize that quality assessment and improvement are central to clinical service delivery, and they integrate this perspective into their day-to-day operations. In addition, many of the efforts that drive quality improvement originate from government and other agencies outside of health care settings. External efforts include standards set by various organizations to promote the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. In addition, the health care consumer plays a pivotal role in quality improvement. As transparency and public reporting are increasingly emphasized, patients' needs and expectations will continue to shape improvement efforts.
This week, you will examine the various external forces that guide quality improvement efforts.

Objectives

By the end of this week, students will be able to:

Evaluate key evidence-based quality improvement initiatives

Identify the foremost accrediting agencies and outline their roles and responsibilities

Describe certification, credentialing, and continuing education and their role in quality improvement