Evaluating intervention programmes for quality assurance in hospitals

Abstract

Describes a methodological framework for evaluating intervention programmes to establish and develop quality assurance systems in general hospitals, based on the authors' experience in participating in a specific intervention programme in quality assurance. Both the approach and the design of the evaluation programme were shaped by the unique characteristics of this intervention programme. The evaluation programme was based on a model of organizational behaviour and change developed especially for the introduction of quality assurance systems into hospitals. With modification. the programme can also be used to evaluate other intervention programmes.

Current Quality Management Practices In U.S. Hospitals: A Survey

“…A six sigma quality level represents at most 3.4 errors per million opportunities and corresponds to a process variation equal to half of the design tolerances, while allowing the process mean to shift as much as 1.5 standard deviation from the target (10). Originally developed by Motorola Corp. for use in manufacturing in the context of tolerance-based specifications, Six Sigma has been applied to product development, customers' services, accounting, and many other business functions in manufacturing, as well as service industries.…”