The application of TQM in a hospital’s casualty and pathology departments

Abstract

Although total quality management (TQM) has been applied successfully in various manufacturing and service enterprises, health‐care organizations have been slow to follow this lead. Recently, market and accreditation pressures have motivated hospitals to implement TQM philosophies and concepts. All hospital TQM applications seek ways to lower costs and improve care. Perhaps the most important patient care function in a hospital is the co‐ordination of accident and emergency (AE) and pathology operations. Explains how TQM can be used to co‐ordinate a hospital’s AE and pathology operations. Overviews these operations at a medium‐sized, regional hospital and describes how TQM was used to improve these operations. Presents the benefits and lessons learned from the TQM application and the implications for hospital management.

Citation

Kohli, R., Kerns, B. and Forgionne, G.A. (1995), "The application of TQM in a hospital’s casualty and pathology departments", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 12 No. 9, pp. 57-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656719510101196