Quality Management Essay example -- Business Management

Deming’s 14 points were first applied to Japan and United States manufacturing but the philosophy can be applied to many different industries now. The theories can be applied to healthcare, including Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH). These types of hospitals are not as common to people, but were created to deliver care based on patient’s needs. This paper will look at an LTACH located in Denver and like many healthcare facilities, employee morale is down due budget cuts and the rising cost of healthcare. A total quality management program could potentially help the facility develop new processes that allow for positive changes. Deming’s 14 Points could be applied to this hospital and help give direction to the leadership staff of the philosophy needed to make the changes. Dr. W Edwards Deming was a statistician who did not use the word total quality management, but can be accredited with the first movement of these types of programs (Gautschi, 1992). The end product is different than manufacturing but the idea of getting the best possible end product is the same. To understand why the program would help the hospital the organization needs to be explained. Deming’s 14 could be used in the transformation because of theory base of statistical information. Deming’s 14 points would also bring direction and needed transformation to the hospital. Background of hospital The intent of long term acute care is to allow people to move from the acute care hospitals into an environment where they can get more attention and services for a longer period of time (http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/postacute/ltach/index.shtml). With four Chief Executive Officers, three Clinical Directors and four Human Resource Managers in the pas... ...be applied to many industries including long term acute care hospitals. By measuring and analyzing statistical information, managers can help to implement a new quality management program. The most important pieces for this hospital would be adopting the philosophy, always trying to improve and self-education. The hospital will also need to institute leadership to begin the process. Without the leadership, the changes necessary will not occur. Works Cited Albert, J., & Gilligan, K. (1990). Ready for quality? How one hospital introduced the Deming method. Hospital Topics, 68(2), 7. Cohen, P. (n.d.). Deming’s 14 points. Retrieved from http://www.hci.com.au/hcisite2/articles/deming.htm Darr, K. (1990). Applying the Deming method in hospitals. Hospital Topics, 68(1), 4. Gautschi, D. F. (1992). 14 points to improve quality. Design News, 48(17), 224.