Beyond survival: toward continuous improvement in medical care.
Using the scientific method, continuous improvement strives to attain unprecedented levels of performance - improved patient outcomes while maintaining or reducing costs. The needs for, and benefits of, continuous improvement are discussed along with a description of its basic elements. The approaches outlined can serve to greatly increase the pace of improvement in health care.
Kilo
C M
CM
Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Kabcenell
A
A
Berwick
D M
DM
D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013597:Systems Analysis; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*