title: Use of the total quality process in an infection control program: a surprising customer-needs assessment.
abstract: The University of Michigan Hospitals began a quality management and improvement process in 1987 as the framework for all of its quality-related efforts and activities. The Infection Control Services department used total quality techniques to develop its mission statement, identify customers, identify customer requirements, and develop quality improvement objectives to meet the requirements. A service evaluation of customers resulted in specific improvement activities. An unexpected result of this evaluation was the difference noted between the Infection Control Services staff members' perception of customer requirements and these customers' actual needs. ICPs should use the continuous quality improvement tools and techniques to enhance their activities within their institutions, to better meet their customer needs, and to make sure that they are complementing their institution's mission.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Services, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mowry-Hanley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vander Hyde
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stites
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hanson
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D008824:Michigan; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011786:Quality Control