title: TQM brings collaboration to patient transport process.
abstract: Total quality management (TQM) principles can be utilized to achieve successful outcomes of an interdepartmental problem-solving process prior to implementation of a TQM formal structure within an organization. Prior to implementation of the new process, patient transport time from nursing units to lab destination was calculated at 17.6 minutes; postimplementation, an institutional benchmark of 15.4 minutes has been set. The mechanisms utilized for development, implementation, and evaluation of a process improvement team is the focus of the article. The reader will be taken on a journey through an interdepartmental problem-solving process utilizing the TQM principles.
authors.affiliation: Albany Medical Center Hospital, NY.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Houston
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clute
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryan-Crepin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D009518:New York; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010354:Patient Escort Service / Q000592:standards*; D011340:Problem Solving; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000592:standards*