A comprehensive approach to quality management of intensive care services.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive framework for improving intensive care unit performance.


METHODS
The study introduces a quality management framework by combining cause and effect diagram and logical framework. An intensive care unit was identified for the study on the basis of its performance. The reasons for not achieving the desired performance were identified using a cause and effect diagram with the stakeholder involvement. A logical framework was developed using information from the cause and effect diagram and a detailed project plan was developed. The improvement projects were implemented and evaluated.


RESULTS
Stakeholders identified various intensive care unit issues. Managerial performance, organizational processes and insufficient staff were considered major issues. A logical framework was developed to plan an improvement project to resolve issues raised by clinicians and patients. Improved infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, well maintained facilities, IT-based communication, motivated doctors, nurses and support staff, improved patient care and improved drug availability were considered the main project outputs for improving performance. The proposed framework is currently being used as a continuous quality improvement tool, providing a planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating framework for the quality improvement measures on a sustainable basis.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined cause and effect diagram and logical framework analysis is a novel and effective approach to improving intensive care performance. Similar approaches could be adopted in any intensive care unit.


CONCLUSIONS
The paper focuses on a uniform model that can be applied to most intensive care units.
Hariharan
Seetharaman
S
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. uwi.hariharan@gmail.com
Dey
Prasanta Kumar
PK
D003142:Communication; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*