title: Total quality management approach improves medication replacement.
abstract: Total quality management (TQM) is based on understanding customer needs, improving key processes that affect customer satisfaction, and creating cross-functional teams to resolve process problems. This article describes application of TQM principles and problem-solving processes to improve one OR's medication exchange system. The problem was excessive monthly pharmacy medication replacement costs. The goal was to reduce the monthly medication replacement costs by 50%. Within four months, monthly medication replacement charges decreased from $656 to $302, and by one year, monthly charges decreased to $160. The new process had fewer steps, fewer staff members involved, and fewer delays in medication replacement.
authors.affiliation: Bellin Hospital, Green Bay, WI.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D004282:Documentation; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014922:Wisconsin