Healthcare Operational Management

The goal for healthcare operational management is to provide high quality services at reduced costs. To achieve this goal, healthcare organizations should focus on the philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM is based on three principles: continuous quality improvement, customer focus, and teamwork. This philosophy works well in healthcare if it is applied correctly. There must be a commitment from leadership, support of health professionals, and a TQM focused strategy.

Those health care organizations that have implemented EMRs know the advantages to using electronic data for continuous quality improvement. If a practice is still using paper files the time to compile and study data is lengthy. With electronic records, data can be compiled in seconds and improvement to processes are much easier to implement. Virtual services are one area where improvements are heavily occurring. Another area for large improvements is wearable technology for monitoring patients and gathering feedback. Health care organizations must become more efficient, provide new and better services, and control costs while they do it.

A customer focus is being driven by government regulations requiring transparency in health care service costs. Health care is moving from a traditional fee-for-service care model into some form of value-based care. Organizations must focus on improving the services they provide including the quality of their services and all processes of their operations. They must improve how they communicate with their patients and ensure positive patient outcomes with greater patient satisfaction. The goal of value-based care is reduced overall healthcare spending as society becomes healthier.

Teamwork is important in attempting to achieve total quality management. All healthcare teams must be working toward improvements for TQM to be achieved. Health care teams must be judged not only on their personal achievements but on their group contributions, ensuring an overarching purpose that transcends their personal priorities. Health care teams must all work together toward a common goal and purpose, with every member of the team contributing, including the leaders.

Generating continuous quality improvement, focusing on positive patient outcomes with greater customer satisfaction, and ensuring a cohesive team focused purpose, will help healthcare organizations to achieve successful total quality management. This achievement of TQM will result in higher quality services at reduced costs, positioning those healthcare organizations for success and potential expansion.

Genesis Medical Management is committed to providing you with the knowledge and strategies needed to ensure your organization is positioned for sustainable growth.