Verification of a quality management theory: using a delphi study

Quality management effects on operating theater's productivity: a participatory action research

Purpose

The operating theater (OT) is resource-intensive, costly and assuring its productivity is a high priority. This study aimed to examine a quality management model's effects on a hospital's OT productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The participatory action research approach was used for the intervention. A multidisciplinary quality improvement team was formed. The team improved OT operational processes using an eight-step quality management model. OT’s key performance indicators such as surgical cases, surgical cancellation, bill deductions, successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, patients' complaints and employees' job satisfaction were collected before the intervention and compared with those of after intervention to determine the efficacy of the quality management model.

Findings

Applying a quality management strategy increased surgical patients' number by 14.96%, reduced surgery operations cancellation by 14.6 %, and decreased bill deduction by 44.9%. Besides, successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation increased by 21.17%, patients' complaints reduced by 61.5% and, finally, staff satisfaction increased by 15.6 %. Improved OT productivity resulted in improved financial performance. As a result, the OT revenue has risen by 68.8%.

Originality/value

This study highlights that implementing the right quality management model properly enhances hospitals' productivity. It also offers suggestions on how to implement a quality management model successfully in a hospital setting.

Consensus on Criteria for Good Practices in Video Consultation: A Delphi Study

The use of telemedicine has greatly increased, largely derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created the need for a guide aimed towards the adequate management of a modality of health care: the video consultation. A Delphi study composed of three rounds was conducted with 16 experts in holding video consultations and managing non-technical skills from different specialties and nationalities to conceive a consensus on the criteria needed for properly managing video consultations by healthcare professionals. The consensus criteria were defined by three dimensions (preparation of video consultation, video consultation process, and post-video consultation) and their corresponding items. Excellent consensus data was obtained; therefore, use is recommended by any healthcare professional who is going to utilize a video consultation, in order to manage it effectively.

Overview of quality management models for inpatient healthcare settings. A scoping review

PURPOSE

This scoping review aimed to generate an overview of existing quality management (QM) models for inpatient healthcare published in peer-reviewed literature.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed publications published until June 2016 were retrieved from the databases Medline, PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library using search terms related to QM and models.

STUDY SELECTION

Publications mentioning a QM model for general application in healthcare or inpatient care in their title or abstract were included. Languages considered were: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data extraction was 3-fold. First, publication characteristics were summarized. Second, the frequency of each identified model was documented and the publications were divided into conceptual and implementation publications. Third, relevant QM models were identified and information regarding the model, including content and relationship with other models, was extracted.

RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS

Of 925 retrieved publications, 213 were included. The included publications reported on 64 different QM models that were suitable for or used in inpatient care. Seventeen models were identified as being relevant. The 17 models were then categorized into three different levels: conceptual quality improvement models, concrete application models and country specific adaptations.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review provides an overview of 17 existing QM models for inpatient care and their relationships with each other. Various types of models with differing aspects and components exist. In searching for QM models, many different concepts like QM system, accreditation or methodologies appeared. For future investigation, concepts of interest should be clarified.

The success of strategic planning in health care organizations of Iran

Purpose Although strategic planning promised to boost organizational performance, many health care managers found it difficult to implement it successfully. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the success of strategic planning in health care organizations of Iran. Design/methodology/approach This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 using a valid and reliable questionnaire completed by 99 health care managers in Tehran province, Iran. Findings Strategic planning was positively related to organizational performance including employees' and patients' satisfaction and organizational productivity. However, strategic planning was moderately successful in enhancing organizational performance of Iranian health care organizations (score of 2.84 out of 5). The most and least success was observed in the planning and employee management constructs of organizational performance. Process management, organizational culture and customer management constructs had the most effect on the success of strategic plans in health care organizations. Practical implications Strategic planning is effective and provides a clear focused direction for health care organizations. Understanding the success factors of strategic planning would enable managers to develop more effective methods for developing, implementing and evaluating strategic plans in health care organizations. Originality/value This paper highlights the relationship between strategic planning and organizational performance and offers suggestions on how to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve higher organizational performance.

Assessment of TQM implementation level in Palestinian healthcare organizations

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of total quality management (TQM) implementation in Palestinian governmental and non-governmental hospitals using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on collecting data using a survey questionnaire that was designed according to the MBNQA criteria. In total, 363 questionnaires from governmental and non-governmental hospitals operating in Gaza Strip were analyzed to assess the level of TQM implementation level in all hospitals (governmental and non-governmental).

Findings

The main results of this study indicate that Palestinian hospitals operating in Gaza Strip perform at a relatively acceptable level. Comparing results shows that the performance of non-governmental hospitals is better with higher degree of TQM implementation than the governmental hospitals. Detailed analysis identifies improvement opportunities-related specific aspects of the human resources focus and the performance results.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study has collected data from one Palestinian Territory, the Gaza Strip, it still identifies the critical factors and practices for TQM implementation within the Palestinian healthcare organizations to improve performance.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that business excellence models such as the MBNQA criteria can be used to assess the level of implementation of quality practices and identify the strengths and weaknesses to improve the quality of service delivery, processes, and performance of hospitals.

Originality/value

Despite the widespread use of TQM in the developed countries, little attention has been placed to implement and assess the quality initiatives by organizations in the developing countries and even fewer in low-income Arab countries (Aamer et al., 2017; Øvretveit and Al Serouri, 2006). In addition, a very few number of studies in reference to the assessment of TQM implementation in the Palestinian context, in general, and in healthcare organizations, in particular, highlight the need for this study. To move the field in that direction, the goal of this research was to assess the level of TQM implementation in the healthcare organizations (mainly hospitals) in Gaza Strip (one of the least fortunate areas of the Palestinian-occupied territories) where no prior similar research studies could be found. Therefore, this study contributes to filling this gap in the literature by providing empirical assessment of TQM level of implementation in Gaza Strip hospitals.

5S – a quality improvement tool for sustainable performance: literature review and directions

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the comprehensive literature review on 5S and suggest possible gaps from the point of view of researchers and practitioners. The manuscript presents the overview of 5S implementation and highlights the achievements realized from deployment of 5S initiatives for sustainable performance of organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critically examines the literature on 5S, analyzes and reviews it systematically. The study highlights the critical barriers and success factors for sustainable 5S implementation in the organizations in the competitive world.

Findings

5S is an outstanding Japanese philosophy for the development of any type organization all over the world. This study bring out the concept of 5S, requirements for its holistic implementation, relationship with other lean tools, benefits, success factors and obstacles in 5S implementation. The significant contributions through 5S initiatives in the organization like production, quality, safety and effective utilization of workspace for the sustained organizational improvement have also been highlighted in the study.

Practical implications

The literature on assortment of 5S technique has been so far very limited. The present paper reviews large number of research publications related to 5S to highlight the significance of 5S philosophy in the sustainable organizational improvement across the world. It foregrounds the approach advised by the various researchers, practitioners and appraises censoriously the reason behind the demand of 5S program in the organization. The needful steps and obstacles are also foreground for the effective implementation of 5S in the organization.

Originality/value

The paper presents a comprehensive review of literature publications in the area of 5S and their assortment to develop an understanding of the significance and implementation of 5S in the organizations. The paper will be helpful or useful to researchers, safety executives, development professionals and managers in the organizations.

Developing and validating a total quality management model for healthcare organisations

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a total quality management (TQM) model for healthcare organisations and validate it using a sample of Iranian healthcare organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from all healthcare organisations that implemented TQM in Isfahan province, Iran.

Findings

– Using the proposed model, TQM implementation was measured in healthcare organisations. The level of TQM success in Isfahan healthcare organisations was medium. The highest score was achieved in the dimension of “customer management”, followed by “leadership” and “employee management”. Employee management, information management, customer management, process management and leadership had the most positive effect on TQM success. Using a series of quality management techniques had “synergistic” effect on TQM success.

Practical implications

– Top management support, effective management of human resources, full involvement of the entire workforce including physicians, education and training, team working, continuous improvement, a corporate quality culture, customer focus and using a combination of management techniques under a quality management system are necessary for TQM successful implementation.

Originality/value

– A healthcare context-specific model of TQM was developed and tested and suggestions were provided for its successful implementation.

Strategic collaborative quality management and employee job satisfaction

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine Strategic Collaborative Quality Management (SCQM) impact on employee job satisfaction.

METHODS

The study presents a case study over six years following the implementation of the SCQM programme in a public hospital. A validated questionnaire was used to measure employees' job satisfaction. The impact of the intervention was measured by comparing the pre-intervention and post-intervention measures in the hospital.

RESULTS

The hospital reported a significant improvement in some dimensions of job satisfaction like management and supervision, organisational policies, task requirement, and working conditions.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides detailed information on how a quality management model implementation affects employees. A well developed, well introduced and institutionalised quality management model can improve employees' job satisfaction. However, the success of quality management needs top management commitment and stability.