title: Initiating regional quality management.
abstract: In June 1999, the Eastern Regional Health Board began to structure a regional quality management program that included quality, satisfaction and risk management initiatives. A regional plan for our two programs (Addiction Services and Public Health) and nine acute care facilities was needed. All had internal quality programs in place, at varying levels of maturity. Synthesis into a regional quality management plan was required. This article describes how one region planned and implemented this task over 10 months. Suggestions are included relating to required resources, a workable timeline and a communication strategy.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Regional Health Board, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gunn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wylde
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009674:Nova Scotia; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016730:Program Development; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012308:Risk Management; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014600:Utilization Review