title: Beyond survival: toward continuous improvement in medical care.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kilo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabcenell
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berwick
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013597:Systems Analysis; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000379:methods*