Quality assurance, an administrative means to a managerial end: Part III

This is the third of a series of articles on medical laboratory quality management. Part I concentrated on the historical background and regulatory basis of quality surveillance. Part II addressed surveillance guidelines of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP), emphasizing quality assurance (QA) and the ten-step process. Part III focuses on the JCAHO Agenda for Change and the transition to continuous quality improvement (CQI). A strategic plan for health care in the U.S., the Agenda is revolutionizing quality management of operative laboratory functions and organizational behavior. Understanding this JCAHO plan is essential for a successful transition from QA to CQI.