title: A guide to highly effective quality programs.
abstract: To dramatically improve quality while decreasing costs, hospitals should: ensure all executives are vocal and visible supporters of quality improvement; focus the board of directors on quality as a strategic priority; strategically target quality resources to improve care for the majority of patients; use the finance system as the foundation for automated quality reporting; form a strong alliance between the CFO and chief quality officer, with each playing a leadership role in the quality program; rely on a well-executed quality program to improve efficiency and decrease the cost of care.
authors.affiliation: Spectrum Health System, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. john.byrnes@spectrum-health.org
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fifer
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006268:Health Facilities; D006739:Hospital Administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States