What is the definition of quality improvement in healthcare?

Quality improvement in healthcare is defined as a process of purposeful change toward meeting expected quality standards. This definition emphasizes the proactive approach to implementing changes designed to enhance the quality of care delivered to patients. It involves systematically using data and methodologies to identify areas needing improvement, set targets for patient outcomes, and measure progress toward those goals.

This process is essential in healthcare since it focuses on continuous enhancement rather than merely maintaining the status quo. While maintaining current standards is important, it does not embody the essence of quality improvement, which is about actively striving for better results through innovative practices, protocols, and strategies. Additionally, while financial aspects like improving profit margins can have their importance in a healthcare setting, they are secondary to the primary goal of improving patient care quality. Similarly, enhancing patient wait times is a component of patient experience, but it does not encapsulate the broader, holistic nature of quality improvement that seeks comprehensive advancements across multiple dimensions of healthcare delivery.