Keeping health care quality high: Physicians are key

Description

Abstract: Hospitals — and physicians — need to track a variety of quality metrics over time to ensure that the hospital’s patient care and safety standards meet, or exceed, the quality improvement (QI) goals of reporting programs such as the Joint Commission’s, and others. This article points out that physicians are key to quality of care. The best way to let physicians know that QI is a strategic priority is for top management to show their commitment to it. Among other things, public demonstrations of encouragement and support help create a strong, sustainable quality culture.