title: Introduction of total quality management into a clinical chemistry laboratory.
abstract: Total quality management (TQM) was introduced into a clinical chemistry laboratory department. During the first 9 months, 35 quality improvement projects were introduced, involving 87% of the Department's staff. As a result of these projects and with a capped budget, a range of new clinical services was introduced, significant improvements in the speed of Departmental services was documented, productivity improvements were achieved, and a 10-fold reduction in staff resignations occurred. The major hindrance encountered was the lack of interest from other non-quality orientated departments elsewhere in the hospital.
authors.affiliation: ICPMR, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D009517:New South Wales; D017749:Total Quality Management