Toward a world-class culture in primary care: reflections on empowerment

It is recognized that in primary care, the staff is at the heart of the healing community. Primary care, which recognizes the wholeness of patients, cannot be successful unless the organizational culture also recognizes the wholeness of the staff. The effectiveness of total quality management (TQM) in an organization depends on a staff that is healthy and whole. This article relates how the creation of a culture that fosters the staff's health and wholeness is the most important factor in the implementation of a TQM program.