Continuous quality improvement as an ideal in hospital practice

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is an important part of successfully managing change in health care. This article describes a CQI plan and process created to develop a comprehensive plan for a rapidly evolving organization. Four key components of the planning process are described: initial initiatives, customer service orientation, teamwork approach, and physician involvement. A case study is also included to illustrate how one CQI plan and process was implemented and evaluated.