CQI in policy implementation: advance directives.

Abstract

Recognition of patients' rights is growing in the healthcare field in this country, as is recognition of the need for advance directives. Advance directives are documents that indicate treatment choices and preferences made by an individual while he or she is still competent. Through the use of continuous quality improvement (CQI) tools and the development of a CQI team, the author's facility was able to implement the important process of having patients complete advance directives.