Achievement of positive outcomes only occurs through team effort  of healthcare workers in concert with a support system.

Quality Systems Framework

1.  Value Systems

A value system involves quality awareness.   The development of a value system based on written standards is the foundation of the quality management program. 

Standards are - a written value statement of rules, conditions, actions in a patient, staff member or the system, that are sanctioned by an appropriate  authority

	Standards are written, adhere to current acceptable levels of practice and are presented in a form that is easily understood by those who are expected to conform to them.
	Standards define a set of rules, actions or conditions. - Rules constitute the structure of the service. - Actions are the process of how the service is carried out. - Conditions define the results or outcomes of the service.

Policy/procedure

Corporate policies Professional practice policies Drug policies Department policies Occupational Health and Safety policies Manual Handling policies Laboratory Safety policies Clinical Practice Guidelines Clinical Pathways

2.  Appraisal or Assessment Systems

Synonymous with quality assurance.   The system consists of specific evaluation activities that determine conformance to the written standards or values in the Division.  The system specifies that appropriate quality assessment activities have the methodology for carrying out those activities in an organised predetermined manner.

Clinical Audits (Medicine and Nursing) Clinical Indicator Monitoring Clinical Adverse Occurrence Monitoring - MET calls, drug errors Patient/Staff Incidents (including blood/body fluid and needle stick incidents) Monitoring Security Incidents General Incidents (disquality events) Environmental Rounds - OHS&R Issues Patient Complaints Monitoring Performance Management  -  Recruitment                                              Selection                                              Orientation                                              Retention Quality Projects Resource Usage Monitoring - including communication

3.  A Response System

A response system involves quality improvement - as the result of a well organised response system.  A response system has appropriate action - planning mechanisms in place which can be implemented when an opportunity for improvement occurs.

Types of action planning included:
1.  A clinical action plan; patient care plan or patient teaching plan
2.  An employee development plan (individual)
3.  A staff development plan (collective)
4.  An administrative action plan - maintenance plan

Back to Quality

Top