Abstract
Problem Statement: Considerable effort has been devoted over the years by many organizations to adopt quality management practices, but few studies have assessed critical factors that affect quality practices in healthcare organizations. The problem addressed in this study was to assess the critical factors influencing the quality management practices in a single important industry (i.e., healthcare). Approach: A survey instrument was adapted from business quality literature and was sent to all hospitals in a large US Southeastern state. Valid responses were received from 147 of 189 hospitals yielding a 75.6% response rate. Factor analysis using principal component analysis with an orthogonal rotation was performed to assess 58 survey items designed to measure ten dimensions of hospital quality management practices. Results: Eight factors were shown to have a statistically significant effect on quality management practices and were classified into two groups: (1) four strategic factors (role of management leadership, role of the physician, customer focus, training resources investment) and (2) four operational factors (role of quality department, quality data/reporting, process management/training and employee relations). The results of this study showed that a valid and reliable instrument was developed and used to assess quality management practices in hospitals throughout a large US state. Conclusion: The implications of this study provided an understanding that management of quality required both a focus on longer-term strategic leadership, as well as day-to-day operational management. It was recommended that healthcare researchers and practitioners focus on the critical factors identified and employ this survey instrument to manage and better understand the nature of hospital quality management practices across wider geographical regions and over longer time periods. Furthermore, this study extended the scope of existing quality management literature to the healthcare industry throughout an entire state and contributed to theory about the nature of quality management practices.
Highlights
Over the years many organizations have devoted considerable effort in adopting quality management practices and several studies have been published assessing quality management practices in various settings
Factor selection: Forty-five survey items, Of the 189 surveys mailed to hospitals, 142 were representing eight dimensions of quality management completed but not all responding hospitals were practices, can be considered to adequately represent the included in the analysis
The focus of the analysis and quality management practice construct and were subsequent findings of the study was 112 acute care included in the factor analysis and subsequent research. hospitals
Summary
Over the years many organizations have devoted considerable effort in adopting quality management practices and several studies have been published assessing quality management practices in various settings. These studies assessed firms across industries and internationally, comparing manufacturing and service firms, focusing on small firms and within specific industries[1,2,3,4]. Since the adoption of quality management practices tends to progress as an industry-based phenomenon, it is important that studies be undertaken that focus on quality management practices at the industry level.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: American Journal of Economics and Business Administration
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
