title: The integration of quality management into chronic disease health services.
abstract: Quality management strategies can be integrated into health services and processes to evaluate, measure, and improve the health services delivered to patients. Over a 6-month period, Living Well with a Chronic Condition program, a chronic disease management health service, had its support services evaluated and significantly improved, reducing the delays that participants experienced trying to access education and exercise classes. Through the use of quality management tools, including process mapping, performance data collection and evaluation, and participant feedback, the program intake process was improved significantly. Wait times of up to 90 days, with an average of 45 days, were reduced to less than 1 week. Postimprovement measures continued to demonstrate improved service, indicating that involving the staff and participants in quality management strategies can lead to significant optimization of services to participants.
authors.affiliation: Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Sheila.Shayesteh@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Sheila Golnaz
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shayesteh
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kliewer
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morrin
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*