Total quality management practices in the NSW hospital system--an overview

A two-phase descriptive study involving a questionnaire survey was undertaken during 1994 and 1995 to evaluate the extent of implementation of total quality management practices in New South Wales hospitals accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. A survey response rate of 72 per cent was attained. Results indicated that most hospitals were aware of and consciously implemented aspects of the total quality management philosophy in some way. There is little evidence that whole systems have embraced the total quality management approach as a fully integrated endeavour.