Quality improvement programs: alternative rewards

As the trend continues toward pay for quality in the health care arena, interested organizations will doubtless recognize that pay-for-quality programs reinforce quality values, clarify communications in the organization, and generally support the culture's expectation of compensation for excellence. However, various stakeholders in the industry may have some skepticism, which will be overcome only through careful education and communication of the plan. An overview of the intrinsic issues and opportunities for alternative means to compensate and reward health care professionals and a case study of one hospital's implementation illustrate the typical benefits of quality-based pay for health care institutions and their nursing professionals.