Lessons in redesigning a quality program across the continuum.
The Kaiser Permanente North East Bay service area redesigned its quality program beginning in 1995, to better mirror how care was provided across the continuum. The old model had evolved over time, was based on departmental structure, and did not focus on all patient populations. The purpose of this article is to describe the redesign process, the quality model implemented, and future directions, with the hope that the lessons learned will provide other healthcare quality professionals some of the knowledge needed and, perhaps, the courage to "design" their quality programs.
Brown
Diane Storer
DS
diane.brown@kp.org
Church
Lauri
L
Heywood
Terry
T
Hills
John F
JF
McCarthy
Sarah
S
Serway
Cindy
C
D002140:California; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006754:Hospital Restructuring / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006770:Hospitals, Group Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*