Applying quality improvement principles and techniques in public mental health systems

Public mental health administrators are increasingly being held accountable for outcomes in mental health systems characterized by longstanding, complex, and seemingly intractable problems. To meet demands for accountability and to satisfy accreditation requirements, the principles and techniques of quality improvement are especially useful. The author draws on his experience as a surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to show the potential applicability of quality improvement in public mental health systems. He presents illustrations of quality improvement principles in the areas of patient advocacy, monitoring hospital admissions, and monitoring use of restraints.