Creating excellence in patient care

Occupational therapists are working in health care organizations that operate from an efficiency perspective. There is growing criticism that this approach can put quality patient care at risk. This article proposes the excellence perspective as a way to address quality as well as productivity. The excellence perspective is one that occupational therapists can use as a guide to program innovation. It is a perspective that fits with the occupational therapist's concern for quality patient care and the administration's concern for productivity. This article examines the excellence perspective and describes its use in business and its potential for health care. A case study that exemplifies excellence in patient care is presented.