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TQM brings collaboration to patient transport process
K L Houston1, C Clute, K Ryan-Crepin
1Albany Medical Center Hospital, NY.
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Total quality management (TQM) principles improved patient transport times by implementing an interdepartmental problem-solving process. This quality improvement initiative successfully reduced average transport duration, setting a new institutional benchmark.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Process Improvement
- Quality Assurance
Background:
- Patient transport efficiency is crucial for timely laboratory diagnostics.
- Interdepartmental coordination challenges can impact service delivery.
- Implementing quality management principles requires a structured approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) principles in an interdepartmental problem-solving context.
- To outline the development, implementation, and evaluation of a process improvement team.
- To highlight the benefits of TQM prior to formal organizational structure implementation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Total Quality Management (TQM) principles for an interdepartmental problem-solving process.
- Establishing a process improvement team focused on patient transport.
- Measuring patient transport time from nursing units to the laboratory before and after process changes.
Main Results:
- Pre-implementation patient transport time averaged 17.6 minutes.
- Post-implementation, an institutional benchmark of 15.4 minutes for patient transport was established.
- The study details the mechanisms for team development, implementation, and evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Total Quality Management (TQM) principles can effectively enhance interdepartmental processes.
- Process improvement teams, guided by TQM, can achieve measurable positive outcomes.
- Early adoption of TQM principles can lead to significant operational improvements before formal structuring.