Avedis Donabedian's name is synonymous with quality of medical care. He unraveled the mystery behind the concept by defining it in clear operational terms and provided detailed blueprints for both its measurement(known as quality assessment) and its improvement(known as quality assurance). Many before him claimed that quality couldn't be defined in concrete objective terms. He demonstrated that quality is an attribte of a system which he called structure, a set of organized activities whihc he called process, and an outcome which results from both. In this book Donabedian tells the full story of quality assessment and assurance in simple, clear terms. He defines the meaning of quality, explicates its components, and provides clear and systematic guides to its assessment and enhancement. His style is lucid, succinct, systematic and yet personal, almost conversational.
Introduction to Health Care Quality explores the issues of quality management in today's health care environment, and provides clear guidance on new and perennial challenges in the field. The idea of 'quality' is examined in the context of a variety of health care situations, with practical emphasis on assessment, monitoring, analysis, and improvement. Students will learn how to utilize statistical tools, patient data, and more to understand new models of reimbursement, including pay for performance and value-based purchasing. They will also learn how to learn how to incorporate technology into everyday practice. Each chapter centers on an essential concept, but builds upon previous chapters to reinforce the material and equip students with a deeper understanding of the modern health care industry. Real-world situations are highlighted to show the intersection of theory and application, while cutting-edge methodologies and models prepare students for today's data-driven health care environment. Health care quality is defined and assessed according to setting, with factors such as standards, laws, regulations, accreditation, and consumerism impacting measurement and analysis in tremendous ways. This book provides an overview of this complex field, with insightful discussion and expert practical guidance. Health care today is worlds away from any other point in history. As the field grows ever more complex, quality management becomes increasingly critical for ensuring optimal patient care. Introduction to Health Care Quality helps students and professionals make sense of the issues, and provide top-notch service in today's rapidly changing health care environment.
"Once solely the domain of engineers, quality control has become a vital business operation used to increase productivity and secure competitive advantage. Introduction to Statistical Quality Control offers a detailed presentation of the modern statistical methods for quality control and improvement. Thorough coverage of statistical process control (SPC) demonstrates the efficacy of statistically-oriented experiments in the context of process characterization, optimization, and acceptance sampling, while examination of the implementation process provides context to real-world applications. Emphasis on Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) provides a strategic problem-solving framework that can be applied across a variety of disciplines.Adopting a balanced approach to traditional and modern methods, this text includes coverage of SQC techniques in both industrial and non-manufacturing settings, providing fundamental knowledge to students of engineering, statistics, business, and management sciences.A strong pedagogical toolset, including multiple practice problems, real-world data sets and examples, provides students with a solid base of conceptual and practical knowledge."--
QUALITY PLANNING AND ASSURANCE Discover the most crucial aspects of quality systems planning critical to manufacturing and service success In Quality Planning and Assurance: Principles, Approaches, and Methods for Product and Service Development, accomplished engineer Dr. Herman Tang delivers an incisive presentation of the principles of quality systems planning. The book begins with an introduction to the meaning of the word “quality” before moving on to review the principles of quality strategy and policy management. The author then offers a detailed discussion of customer needs and the corresponding quality planning tasks in design phases, as well as a treatment of the design processes necessary to ensure product or service quality. Readers will enjoy explorations of advanced topics related to proactive approaches to quality management, like failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). They???ll discover discussions of issues like supplier quality management and the key processes associated with quality planning and execution. The book also includes: A thorough introduction to quality planning, including definitions, discussions of quality system, and an overview of the planning process A comprehensive exploration of strategic planning development, including strategic management, risk management and analysis, and pull and push strategies Practical discussions of customer-centric planning, including customer-oriented design, quality function deployment, and affective engineering In-depth examinations of quality assurance by design, including the design review process, design verification and validation, and concurrent engineering Perfect for senior undergraduate and graduate students in technology and management programs, Quality Planning and Assurance will also earn a place in the libraries of managers and technical specialists in a wide range of fields, including quality management.
This book presents the state-of-the-art in quality and reliability engineering from a product life-cycle standpoint. Topics in reliability include reliability models, life data analysis and modeling, design for reliability as well as accelerated life testing and reliability growth analysis, while topics in quality include design for quality, acceptance sampling and supplier selection, statistical process control, production tests such as environmental stress screening and burn-in, warranty and maintenance. The book provides comprehensive insights into two closely related subjects, and includes a wealth of examples and problems to enhance readers’ comprehension and link theory and practice. All numerical examples can be easily solved using Microsoft Excel. The book is intended for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students in related engineering and management programs such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering and engineering management programs, as well as for researchers and engineers in the quality and reliability fields. Dr. Renyan Jiang is a professor at the Faculty of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, China.
For the first time in a single volume, quality control, reliability, and design engineers have a comprehensive overview of how each of their disciplines interact to achieve optimum product and/or project success. Thoroughly covering every stage of each phase, this outstanding reference provides detailed discussions of techniques and methods, ensuring cost-effective and time-saving procedures ... contains over 80 solved problems -- as well as numerous end-of-chapter exercises -- for reinforcement of essential material ... presents a complete, relevant mathematics chapter that eliminates the need to refer to other math texts ... offers self-contained chapters with introductions, summaries, and extensive references for quick, easy reading and additional study. Quality Control, Reliability, and Engineering Design is a key, on-the-job source for quality control, reliability, and design engineers and managers; system engineers and managers; and mechanical, electrical and electronic, industrial, and project engineers and managers. The book also serves as an ideal reference for professional seminars and in-house training programs, as well as for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in Quality Control, Reliability, Quality Control and Reliability, and Quality Control of Engineering Design. Book jacket.
This is the first undergraduate textbook to provide a comprehensive overview of essential knowledge, skill, and attitudes about safety in nursing practice. It reflects the six areas of nursing competencies as developed by the Quality and Safety Education Program for Nurses (QSEN) initiative, which are currently required content in undergraduate nursing programs. Using an inter-professional focus, the book addresses the fundamental knowledge required of entry-level nurses in each of the six QSEN areas: quality improvement, patient safety, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, informatics, and patient-centered care. The book includes all of the content required for nursing programs to be accredited by AACN or NLN. Contributors include nurse educators, faculty, researchers, administrators, case managers, quality improvement practitioners, and entrepreneurs of nursing as well as physicians and librarians from throughout the U.S. Readers will be privy to the unique perspectives of different health care partners who provide real life examples from an inter-professional team perspective. These include pharmacists, lawyers, physicians, librarians, quality improvement nurses, radiology technologists, nurse practitioners, hospital board members, patients, and others. Each chapter includes objectives, opening scenarios, case studies, critical thinking exercises, key terms, NCLEX-style questions, photos, tables, figures, web resources, recommendations for additional reading, and PowerPoint slides. An important feature of the book is the listing of QSEN competencies and the associated knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) in the Appendix. Key Features: Comprises the only undergraduate text to address the six areas of requisite nursing competencies as developed by the QSEN initiative Provides a strong foundation for safe, evidence-based care Presents an inter-professional approach that reflects health care today Supports teaching with PowerPoint slides, critical thinking exercises, case studies, and rationales for review questions Includes objectives, critical thinking exercises, case studies, real world interviews, tables, figures, visuals, and suggested readings in each chapter
In the past, when goods and services were simpler, measurement of quality was self-evident. As business became more complicated, so too did the implementation of quality management and our ability to measure it. Ultimately, the practice of quality strayed from being a business practice to become much more of an engineering discipline producing plen
This book is the leader among the new generation of text books on quality that follow the systems approach to creating quality in products and services; the earlier generations focused solely on parts of the system such as statistical methods, process control, and management philosophy. It follows the premise that the body of knowledge and tools documented by quality professionals and researchers, when employed in designing, creating and delivering the product will lead to product quality, customer satisfaction and reduced waste. The tools employed at the different stages of the product creation cycle are covered in this book using real world examples along with their theoretical bases, strengths and weaknesses. This textbook can be used for training - from shop floor personnel to college majors in business and engineering to practicing professionals. Graduate students training as researchers in the quality field will also find useful material. The book has been used as the text for a Professional Series Massive Open Online Course offered by the Technical University of Munich on edX.org, through which tens of thousands of participants from all over the world have received training in quality methods. According to Professor Dr. Holly Ott, who chose the book for the course, the text is one of the main factors contributing to success of this MOOC. The Third Edition has been fully revised to be friendly for self-study, reflects changes in the standards referenced such as ISO 9000, and includes new examples of application of statistical tools in health care industry. Features: Reviews the history of quality movement in the U.S. and abroad Discusses Quality Cost analysis and quality’s impact on a company’s bottom line Explains finding customer needs and designing the product using House of Quality Covers selection of product parameters using DOE and reliability principles Includes control charts to control processes to make the product right-the-first-time Describes use of capability indices Cp and Cpk to meet customer needs Presents problem solving methodology and tools for continuous improvement Offers ISO 9000, Baldrige and Six Sigma as templates for creating a quality system
