Total Quality in Radiology

Total Quality is a practical, proven approach to management that is successfully being applied throughout American industry-and more recently in health care organizations. Total Quality in Radiology: A Guide to Implementation is designed to be used by the neophyte or experienced quality improvement practitioner. Written by two authors with extensive experience in departmental leadership, problem solving, and improvement programs, this new book provides the reader with a step-by-step, practical approach for implementing total quality in a radiology department. The book covers all the principles of total quality and provides the basic tools necessary to begin and implement a detailed QI program. For the administrator, there are examples of actual radiology improvement projects that have been implemented in U.S. hospitals-including successes and setbacks. Lessons learned and pitfalls are openly discussed. For the radiologist, there is a fresh new look at quality from the "customer's" perspective-the patient and referring physician. Examples of programs "in operation" are provided as well as suggestions for other areas where radiology-initiated quality programs may have a positive impact on patient outcome. This book has something for those who want relief from crisis management and wish to maintain an abiding commitment to an improved health care workplace.

Sudhir Arora

PART I: THE BASICS 1. Introduction to Total Quality Management Introduction Historical Perspective Quality Assurance vs. Quality Improvement Deming's 14 Points Applied to Radiology 2. Creating Purpose in the Radiologic Practice Vision Mission Guiding Principles 3. Seeking Continuous Improvement What the Customer Wants Measurable Department Logistics Measurable Radiologic Science Summary 4. Defining Process and the TQM Method The Basic Process FOCUS-PDCA Total Quality Improvement Implementation Plan 5. Mastering the Tools of TQM Cause-and-Effect Diagram Histogram Pareto Chart Scatter Diagram Trend Chart Control Chart Group Task and Decision-Making Tools Summary 6. The Basics of Statistical Analysis Doing It with Data Basic Descriptive Statistics Basic Statistics of Diagnosis PART II: IMPLEMENTATION: MAKING IMPROVEMENT CONTINUOUS 7. The Process of Getting Started Making the Transition from Business as Usual The Fundamentals Managing the Implementation Pitfalls 8. Improvement in Department Logistics Clarifying the Mission of the Department Tackling Excessive Patient Waiting Time Reducing Report Turnaround Time Improving Patient Access Solving Revenue Problems Pitfalls 9. Improvement in Diagnosis and Therapeutics Improving Breast Cancer Detection Optimizing Magnetic Resonance Diagnosis Cross-Functional Improvement Programs Thoughts on Future Applications 10. The Use of Personal Computers in the Improvement Process Data Collection and Entry Databases Spreadsheets Audits Hardware Requirements Appendix A: Quality Improvement Templates Additional Readings Index