The Quality Handbook for Health Care Organizations: A Manager's Guide to Tools and Programs / Edition 1

by Yosef D. Dlugacz, Andrea Restifo, Alice Greenwood

Overview

This important book is a practical, theory-based resource on the topic of health care quality management written for health care administrators and practitioners.  It offers the tools needed to help managers make decisions, prioritize resources (financial and human), and analyze and improve the care they deliver.  The Handbook offers a hands-on approach to specific topics such as the implementation of managerial goals, instructions for developing accurate measurements for evaluating care, the utilization of data as a basis for process improvement, exploration of quality management tools and techniques, guidelines for the complex integration of collaborative services in health care, and methods for effective communication and improving accountability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787969219
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/02/2004
Series:	J-B AHA Press , #131
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.89(w) x 9.13(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Yosef D. Dlugacz, Ph.D., is senior vice president Quality Management for the North Shore—Long Island Jewish Health System.
Andrea Restifo, R.N., M.P.A., is vice president Quality Management for the North Shore—Long Island Jewish Health System.
Alice Greenwood, Ph.D., is information and research specialist Quality Management for the North Shore—Long Island Jewish Health System.

Table of Contents

Figures and Tables.

Foreword.

Author’s Note.

Preface.

The Authors.

1. The Role of the Manager.

2. Managing Quality.

3. Information and Prioritization.

4. Managing Quality Data.

5. Using Quality Tools and Statistical Methods for Data Analysis.

6. Translating Information into Action.

7. Working with Guidelines.

8. Communication and Accountability.

9. To Err Is Indeed Human.

10. Working Together.

Conclusion.

Bibliography.

Name Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“The Quality Handbook for Health Care Organizations offers students of health care policy and management a unique opportunity to learn firsthand from one of the nation’s leading experts in health care quality. Dr. Dlugacz’s passion for promoting the highest ideals of quality in health care should inspire future generations of health care professionals.”
—Alan M. Leiken, chair, Department of Health Care Policy and Management, School of Health Care Policy and Management, School of Health Technology and Management, Health Sciences Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook

“This outstanding book combines both the quantitative aspects of data collection and analysis with the critical human behaviors that make up a health care institution’s culture. Only when these two factors combine do true ‘quality’ decisions and patient care result.”
—Stuart R. Levine, author, The Six Fundamentals of Success

“The Quality Handbook reflects the authors’ combination of technical know-how, years of experience, and the enthusiasm for the complex challenge of their work.”
—Margaret E. O’Kane, president, National Committee of Quality Assurance

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Catherine J. Buck, RN, MSN (Froedtert Hospital)
Description: This book is a comprehensive roadmap for executive and middle managers providing pathways for improving health service and for providing and responding to human health needs. This publication provides vivid examples, rich illustrations, and practical tools for planning, implementing, and carrying out performance improvement activities.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide managers with information that will assist them in carrying out their responsibilities by learning how to collect and analyze quality information and data, and becoming familiar with methods that are used to assess and implement effective change. It seeks to instruct its audience on how to prioritize improvement efforts, evaluate resource consumption, produce intelligent reports, and sustain improvement. The authors do an excellent job in meeting these worthy objectives.
Audience: The target audience is upper and middle managers in healthcare organizations. The authors state that although some books target specific areas associated with the delivery of services, such as data analysis techniques, regulatory requirements, resource evaluation, fiscal management, and strategic planning, no book provides overarching theoretical and practical information to assist healthcare leaders, supervisors, managers and staff with their daily responsibilities. This publication is designed to fill this gap. I agree with the authors in their assessment of their work.
Features: The handbook is organized according to topic with theoretical issues outlined and practical tools explained in each chapter. The book covers all essential elements necessary for a sound quality management approach including the role of the manager, project prioritization, statistical methods for data analysis, and use of protocols and standardization. Though there is no mention of the six sigma methodology, much of the body of knowledge presented in the chapter on statistical methods for data analysis covers many of the six sigma tools. Several examples of simple but useful clinical paths are provided along with references for other best practice templates.
Assessment: As a chief operating officer of a complex academic medical center, I think this book provides excellent direction for the development of a sophisticated quality management program moving it from an effort that is concerned only with maintaining compliance and regulatory requirements to the core of the organization's quest for evaluating processes and patient outcomes. This distinguishes it from other publications in the field and I intend to purchase a copy for each leader in my organization.

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5 Stars! from Doody