International journal of health care quality assurance
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2012
On the day of surgery: how long does preventable disruption prolong the patient journey?
Disruption considerably prolongs session times for surgery, affects the quality of patient care, and prolongs waiting lists. In addition, there is a strong relationship between disruption and surgical error. This research aims to provide a platform for healthcare services to identify the sources of preventable disruption affecting operative time within the perioperative process and to effectively reduce it. ⋯ Surgical disruption has substantial financial implications for hospitals. This research indicates that it is possible to reduce operative time considerably by eliminating preventable disruption. Such additional time could be utilised to deal with the pressure of emergency cases, reduce the waiting lists for elective surgery, increase operating room utilisation, and reduce medical errors.
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2012
Significant components of service brand equity in healthcare sector.
The purpose of the study is to examine three significant components of service brand equity--i.e. perceived service quality, brand loyalty, and brand image--and analyze relationships among the components of brand equity and also their relationship with brand equity, which is still to be theorized and developed in the healthcare literature. ⋯ The study has unique value addition to the service marketing vis-à-vis healthcare literature, from both theoretical and managerial perspectives. The study establishes a direct and significant relationship between service brand equity and its two components, i.e. perceived service quality and brand loyalty in the healthcare sector. It also provides directions to healthcare service providers in creating, enhancing, and maintaining service brand equity through service quality and brand loyalty, to sustain competitive advantage.
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2012
Morbidity and mortality conferences: their place in quality assessments.
This article aims to analyze morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MCs) in a university-affiliated hospital, notably their format and progression since the 1990s. ⋯ Results indicate that M&MCs have evolved over the past 20 years, showing them to be valuable quality and safety improvement methods.
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2012
Patient safety analysis linking claims and administrative data.
The purpose of this paper is to provide international data on the occurrence (and rates) of clinical errors, identified by type and consequence in the Lombardy region, and to assess empirically the association between hospital accreditation-type measures and clinical error rates by merging hospital discharge records and medical malpractice claim data in the Lombardy region (Italy). ⋯ As a risk management strategy, the combined use of claims data and clinical administrative data is proposed to shed light on the more problematic, error-prone areas, allowing regional stakeholders to receive relevant, highly cost-effective and timely information and an in-depth understanding of the problematic areas in the assessment of risk.
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2012
Linking Six Sigma to simulation: a new roadmap to improve the quality of patient care.
Improving the quality of patient care is a challenge that calls for a multidisciplinary approach, embedding a broad spectrum of knowledge and involving healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative approach that implements discrete-event simulation (DES) as a decision-supporting tool in the management of Six Sigma quality improvement projects. ⋯ The role of Six Sigma philosophy in improvement of the quality of healthcare services is recognised both by researchers and by quality practitioners; discrete-event simulation models are commonly used to improve the key performance measures of patient care delivery. The two approaches are seldom referenced and implemented together; however, they could be successfully integrated to carry out quality improvement programs. This paper proposes an innovative approach to bridge the gap and enrich the Six Sigma toolbox of quality improvement procedures with DES.