What is the purpose of continuous quality improvement in HCQM?

The purpose of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in healthcare quality management (HCQM) is fundamentally about consistently enhancing the performance of healthcare services. This approach emphasizes the importance of regularly assessing and refining processes, outcomes, and systems to provide better care and improve patient safety. By implementing CQI, healthcare organizations aim to identify areas for improvement and establish methods to make ongoing enhancements, ultimately leading to higher quality patient care, satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Focusing on enhancing performance encompasses various strategies, such as collecting data, analyzing it for insights, and utilizing best practices to foster an adaptable environment. This commitment to quality is integral to providing effective healthcare and meeting patients' needs.

While minimizing employee turnover, increasing profit margins, and eliminating all risks are all important aspects of managing a healthcare organization, they do not capture the essence of what continuous quality improvement aims to achieve. CQI prioritizes sustained enhancement of care rather than a singular focus on financials or workforce metrics. Thus, the emphasis on ongoing performance improvement reflects the core mission of CQI within HCQM.