Applications of industrial quality improvement in health care

Quality in medical care traditionally has been regarded as the professionally defined optimum that brings about the greatest improvement in health. That definition has been modified somewhat to include patient preferences for different treatment alternatives and costs. The question then arises how we can improve the efficiency of the health care system while maintaining or improving the quality of care. The answer is a focus on improvement in the process of care and, as needed, monitoring of all aspects of the process, not just untoward outcomes.